The Houston Texans have a big weekend planned and have had a great week, following the huge win against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Texans fans have been on cloud nine all week and head into this weekend with optimism that their team just might be moving in the right direction finally.
No longer are fans asking the question, is CJ Stroud the franchise quarterback everyone was hoping for? I remember in the not-too-distant past fans arguing whether Stroud was worth the second pick of the NFL draft and if Houston made the right move. I think Stroud has answered those questions and set everyone's mind at ease. Now the question is, can the team get their offensive line together and make a serious push for a division title?
A week ago, the Texans were 0 - 2 and no one was talking about division titles or playoffs but after a huge win against the division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars, fans are now talking about the possibilities that lie ahead of the Houston Texans. Let's get into the Houston Texans news from this past week.
CJ Stoud is your September NFL Rookie of the Month
We've talked all week about C.J. Stroud's stat line so far in the 2023 season. Over 900 yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions. What Stroud and the Texans are doing through the air is wild and no one, I mean no one expected. I can honestly say I had more faith in the receiving corps than maybe others but I certainly didn't expect Stroud to be lighting up NFL defenses the way he has through three games.
What a start 🚀
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) September 28, 2023
Your Offensive Rookie of the Month, @CJ7STROUD 🫡 pic.twitter.com/2wzK2YmUK7
The NFL world agrees, voting Stroud as the Offensive Rookie of the Month for September. Stroud is top-ten in several categories too; however, one of those categories is sacks. He's been sacked 11 times this season. This number should improve once the Texans start getting their offensive line healthy but Stroud is still flourishing despite the pressure he faces from opposing defenses, which makes the stat line all that more impressive. Stroud is well on his way to NFL Rookie of the Year.
Nico Collins and Tank Dell rank in the top-8 in yards per reception
For a receiving corps that was much maligned during the offseason, even called the worst group in the NFL, they aren't doing too bad. Stroud has been on fire and his receivers are doing their part as well. Nico Collins and Tank Dell rank in the top eight in yards per reception among receivers with at least 15 targets.
Collins is fifth with a yards-per-reception average of 17.3 and Dell sits eighth with an average of 16.7. Both are 11th and 12th respectively in receiving yards too. Both Collins and Dell will be needed on Sunday when the Texans take on the Pittsburgh Steelers. This will be a tough matchup but so far, this receiving corps has been anything but the worst in the NFL.
Houston Texans legend, J.J. Watt will be inducted into the Ring of Honor during Sunday's game
This offseason, it was announced that J.J. Watt was elected to the Houston Texans Ring of Honor, and this Sunday, that honor will be realized, as his name will be officially revealed. The Texans have some legends throughout their relatively short history, but Watt just might be the biggest legend of them all.
It's not a stretch either to say that Watt is one of the legends of not just the Texans but in the NFL. Watt has 114.5 career sacks, ranking him officially 24th all-time in the NFL. He's a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, five-time All-Pro, and five-time Pro Bowler. He led the league in sacks twice in 2012 and 2015 and was NFL Player of the Year runner-up in 2014.