Stroud was hardly innocent in the Texans’ issues - The criticism was far from baseless

The Houston Texans dropped their first game of the 2025 regular season, losing 14-9 to the Los Angeles Rams on the road. In a game he will surely want back, third-year quarterback C.J. Stroud made no bones about the implications of their performance.

Stroud was hardly innocent in the Texans’ issues, which led to some criticism online.

The 2023 Pro Bowler and Offensive Rookie of the Year knows that the Texans will not win many games this season if they are not better in future outings.

C.J. Stroud Points Finger at Self After Rough Week 1 Outing

After the game, reporters asked how Stroud would use Sunday’s results as motivation. Stroud said that it was “kind of obvious” that self-inflicted issues were the culprit. Stroud believes the loss is a “good wake-up call” for the Texans, who still have at least 16 more games to play.

He also said that improvement starts with him.

Stroud’s interception came on an attempt to rookie second-round pick Jayden Higgins. Rams cornerback Cobie Durant wrestled the ball away, giving LA possession near midfield.

“We can’t shoot ourselves in the foot consistently and expect to win, and that starts with me with a lot of different things. I got to get rid of the ball better and use my legs, maybe, a little more. But, yeah, I think there’s a lot of hope still. We did a lot of good things. It’s a really good defense,” Stroud told reporters on September 7. “It’s a really good team, but I definitely think we could have won. But you can shoulda, woulda, coulda all day. We didn’t deserve to win that game because we didn’t do the right things.

“When you come out NFL lolly gagging and … going through the motions, that kind of happened. So, I think we’ll be all right. But I think it’s a good wake-up call for us.”

Texans HC DeMeco Ryans ‘Proud’ of C.J. Stroud

Stroud completed 19 of his 27 pass attempts for 188 yards, 0 touchdowns, and the 1 interception in the Texans’ loss to the Rams.

He also took three sacks on the night against a vaunted Rams pass rush that features the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year, Jared Verse, as the Texans reshuffled their offensive line several times due to injuries.

Perhaps due to the circumstances, Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans was “proud” of his QB.

“I thought C.J. played really nice. He made some nice plays for us,” Ryans told reporters on September 7, citing the end of the first half in a two-minute situation, calling it “very impressive,” and citing Stroud scrambling.

Stroud had 32 yards (more than he had in all but one game last season) on five carries.

“Really heads-up play, smart play by him,” Ryans said of Stroud. “Really managed the offense well, made some nice throws, and, unfortunately, we came up short. He made some nice plays under pressure. They got us on a few as well, but that happens. But I’m really proud of the way C.J. played.”

Stroud said postgame that he tries to “use my athleticism the best I can,” which could be more common next week.

Texans OL Injuries Loom Large

Stroud was supposed to have Texans rookie second-round pick Aireontae Ersery at left tackle alongside veterans (from left to right) Laken Tomlinson at left guard, center Jake Andrews, right guard Ed Ingram, and Tytus Howard holding down right tackle.

Ingram was inactive with an abdominal injury, which forced Ersery to RT and Cam Robinson, whom the rookie replaced on the left side, back into that spot.

Then Robinson got hurt, and Ersery returned to the left side with Blake Fisher moving into RT.

It got even more dire for the Texans from there, though, as Andrews suffered an injury that required him to be carted off. Jarrett Patterson stepped in for Andrews, who is set to go for an MRI this week, per KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson, after suffering what Ryans called a “foot injury.”

The Texans’ contingency plan likely accounts for one, and possibly even two absences from starters. Missing and/or reshuffling multiple players is a lofty ask, even with a week to prepare.

Next up, Stroud and the Texans will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their home opener.

Packers Star Xavier McKinney Unfazed by Controversial Taunting Flag Against Lions

Early in the second quarter of Sunday’s showdown with the Lions in Green Bay, Packers star safety Xavier McKinney did something so many players in the history of the league have done before him. He blocked an opponent to the ground, and subsequently stood over him.

The opponent was Kalif Raymond, and neither he nor McKinney was involved in the play, which saw Kiesean Nixon push lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs out of bounds. But as Raymond got up to engage in a minor confrontation with McKinney, something odd happened. A flag came in and McKinney was whistled for a 15-yard penalty on a pretty innocuous play.

The play was was unusual to say the least, and met with much disdain by fans on social media. but it is part of the new “respect for opponents” emphasis the league has enacted this season. It didn’t hurt the Packers in their 27-13 drubbing of the Lions, but it could have.

Xavier McKinney ‘Probably’ Did Taunt

McKinney admitted after the game that he did stand over Raymond, and did not seem too concerned about it. The Lions ended up with a field goal on the drive.

“I probably did,” McKinney said when asked about standing over Raymond. “But hey, it is what it is. I had to set the tone not just for our team but for our defense of how we want to play. I’ll take the flag, I’ll live with it, it’s all right.”

LaFleur was livid with the officiating crew when the play unfolded. After the game, he was being diplomatic but clearly disagreed with the call. When he was first asked what he saw on the play, he shot back at a reporter, “What did you see?”

But he went on: “Worst case scenario, they should’ve been offsetting (penalties). But they saw it differently.”

Packers Known They Must Keep Composure

Still, the league has made plain its attempts to clean up unsportsmanlike behavior on the field, and even sent a memo to each team to hammer home the point last month. LaFleur said his team is aware of the point of emphasis.

“We’ll definitely address that again. We can’t do that,” LaFleur said. ‘We’ve got to be better than that. Football is an emotional game, and I understand. I love these guys getting excited about playing. There’s a lot of stuff that goes on on the field, but you’ve got to keep your composure and your poise, especially when you’re playing a really good football team.”

McKinney added: “Going forward, I’m going to toe the line. If I get a flag, I’ll learn from it, but I’m going to toe that line. Obviously, I’m a smart player so I understand when I can and can’t do it, but this type of game, I had to set the tone and that’s just what it was. And we’ll live with it.”

Sport