As preseason action ramps up, some head coaches send their best to play at least a couple of drives. Per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, “Texans quarterback CJ Stroud set to play a few series tonight vs. Raiders along with first-team offensive line… Twenty to 25 plays, roughly.”

Hence, Stroud, whose stock in the NFL has plummeted after a very promising rookie year, needs to look at least good to not raise concerns. The Texans have exercised the fifth-year option for Stroud, which would imply a potential extension is coming, however, nothing is set in stone.

Will Fernando Mendoza play for the Raiders vs Texans?

Fernando Mendoza was the number one overall pick in the NFL Draft, but he is behind veteran Kirk Cousins on the depth chart. Hence, the Raiders will deploy their rookie so he can get some added snaps in his resume.

After the joint practice with Houston, Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak said Mendoza will get a lot of reps in the game vs Texans. Hence, it’s another opportunity for Mendoza to show his team he can take over if Cousins slips.

Why are Stroud and Mendoza so highly-watched?

Stroud has lots of eyeballs on him because his dip in form after the rookie season has been dramatic. Given that Houston has the best defense in the NFL, the team feels like it’s a quarterback away from contention. However, Stroud’s recent years show that he might not be the QB the Texans can rely on.

As for Mendoza, his College Football career was so great, that it granted him a National Championship and the first overall pick. That alone will put pressure on him. Add the fact that he is on a team desperate for good QB play, and the expectations grow even more.

As a result, the RWR position is depleted, with Tank Dell also in the midst of recovering from a serious knee injury. Their two leading options at the moment are Nico Collins and Jaylin Noel.

Further down the depth chart, C.J. Stroud has the following options to target in the passing game: Xavier Hutchinson, Lewis Bond, Jared Wayne, Justin Watson, Treyvon Saunders, Josh Kelly, Daniel Sobkowicz, Jha’Quan Jackson, and Juwann Winfree.

High hopes were placed on Higgins

Jayden Higgins’ rookie season left the Texans feeling optimistic, with Ryans expecting to give him a more prominent role in his second year as a professional. Unfortunately, those plans will now have to be put on hold.

The former Iowa State player stood out with 41 catches, 525 receiving yards, and six touchdowns, especially after Tank Dell was sidelined by his injury. Now, Higgins will have to focus on recovering quickly, returning at 100%, and proving that he has what it takes to become an elite player.

Analyzing changes for the rest of the preseason

The Houston Texans have two more preseason games remaining to get their players ready for the start of the season. DeMeco Ryans will now have to determine how to replace Higgins on the field.

The first will take place on August 20 at home against Kirk Cousins and the Las Vegas Raiders, while they will wrap up their preseason on the road against the Carolina Panthers on Friday, August 28.

The Texans will open Week 1 against a Super Bowl contender. On September 13, NRG Stadium will be ready to host Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills.

Per Yahoo! Sports, Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans admitted starters won’t suit up, meaning CJ Stroud won’t play vs. Chargers in their preseason opener. On the opposing side, Justin Herbert’s status vs Texans has also been revealed.

Stroud is getting ready to play in the regular season, where he’ll have to earn a new contract. After his rookie year, CJ Stroud looked as the future of the NFL, but after that, he’s been declining heavily. This means the Texans haven’t offered a new contract right now.

CJ Stroud’s preseason stats

Stroud’s preseason numbers have been inconsistent throughout the years. However, he’s also been very limited, giving that he is the QB1 of the team. The Texans won’t risk having him there for an extended period of time and then get him injured.

The Texans have high hopes for the 2026 NFL season

Scoring on the Texans is an absolute nightmare. Houston had an elite, borderline historic defense last season. The unit remains pretty much the same for this year. Hence, they know they are capable of going far.

On offense, the Texans still have Nico Collins as the WR1 and Tank Dell is returning to join Jayden Higgins as well. Also, they added running back David Montgomery to the mix. If Stroud is able to pull back time and play like he did as a rookie, he could realistically guide the Texans all the way to a Lombardi.

“Tank, he’s grinding. Great attitude,” Ryans said at the NFL’s Annual League Meeting, via KPRC’s Aaron Wilson. “Don’t know if OTAs he’ll be there, but I know he’ll back for us at some point this year. As I told Tank, it’s not a matter of getting back to OTAs just to get back, it’s just a matter of getting back in a really good spot physically to where you stay there.

“That’s the main thing. It’s not about how quickly he returns. It’s just about Tank returning because we saw what Tank can do, the playmaking that he provides to our entire team. Just getting him back, whenever that time is, it’s going to lift our team.“

Tank Dell’s devastating injury

In December 2024, Tank Dell suffered a catastrophic knee injury during a game against the Kansas City Chiefs, involving a dislocated kneecap and multiple torn ligaments, including his ACL, MCL, and LCL. This devastating injury required two major surgeries and sidelined him for the entire 2025 season as he underwent a grueling rehabilitation process.

Aerial options for C.J. Stroud

C.J. Stroud’s air attack for the 2026 season is anchored by the dominant Nico Collins, who remains one of the league’s most physical and productive deep threats. Joining him is Jayden Higgins, a dynamic playmaker expected to provide immediate versatility and explosive potential to the Texans‘ offense.

General manager Nick Caserio reflected on the 2025 season during an interview on SiriusXM NFL Radio, where he reiterated his confidence in Stroud and praised the quarterback for helping keep the Texans competitive throughout the year despite inconsistencies on offense.

“I think the big thing about DeMeco, we believe in our players, and you want to instill confidence in them, understanding there’s going to be some ups and downs that you’re going to have to endure. Every player goes through that. CJ went through that during the course of the season, and that game was a microcosm of some of the things early in the year, but it’s going to happen,” Caserio said.

“So how do you bounce back? How do you handle those things? And hopefully you learn from them. And then you get to the offseason, what are some things that you can correct? So that’s where the focus was going to be. But he’s played a lot of good football for us for three years now, and we were excited for where we were heading into year four.”

Stroud’s performance vs the Patriots

Stroud was unable to overcome the challenges presented by the Patriots’ defense in the AFC Divisional Round. He completed just 20 of 47 pass attempts for 212 yards with one touchdown and multiple interceptions, struggling to find rhythm against constant pressure.

It marked another disappointing offensive showing for the Texans. The team demonstrated Super Bowl potential on the defensive side of the ball throughout the season, but the offense failed to deliver the same level of consistency when it mattered most.

Across 14 NFL regular-season games in 2025, Stroud completed 273 passes for 3,041 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions, while adding 209 rushing yards and one score on 48 carries. In the postseason, he finished with 462 passing yards, two touchdowns, and five interceptions, numbers that reflected both promise and volatility.

The Texans entered the offseason with several questions to answer. The organization not only looked to address roster needs through the draft and free agency, but also faced important decisions regarding key players and the coaching staff as they aimed to take the next step toward true contention.

CJ Stroud had a chance to silence his doubters, but failed to do so. In the biggest challenge of his career so far, the Texans quarterback threw four interceptions in the first half. Despite the disastrous performance, head coach DeMeco Ryans has made it clear that he still believes in him.

“I talked with CJ today and my message is the same,” Ryans said on Monday. “Right now, it’s just about him flushing this one. It’s going to be a lot of negative talk, a lot of attention on him. He can’t listen to it all. He’s just got to get back to work in the offseason of going back to the basics, the fundamentals of playing the quarterback position, playing it really well, understanding how we need to play the game to win the game. He understands that already.

“I just told him, ‘Don’t listen to anything. Put your phone away. Don’t listen to anything, because there’s going to be a lot of negative talk out there for you.’ Specifically, I just told him to get away, clear his mind. Because right now, at this moment, I know there’s going to be a lot of attention on him, a lot of negative media, and today, a lot of questions about him.

2026 could be CJ Stroud’s final test

Although the Texans managed to reach the 2026 playoffs, their postseason run was far from impressive. While they defeated the Steelers in the Wild Card round, the victory came largely thanks to their defense rather than Stroud’s play.

When the Texans selected Stroud with the second overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, they expected him to quickly become the franchise quarterback they had been searching for. So far, the former Ohio State standout has fallen short of those expectations.

Stroud showed promise during his rookie season, leading many to believe he would guide Houston to long-term success. However, his production has declined since then, raising concerns about his development and overall progression.

The quarterback is eligible for a contract extension, but the team is expected to exercise his fifth-year option for the 2027 season instead. At this point, the 2026 campaign appears to be a pivotal year—one that could determine whether Stroud earns a long-term deal or if the Texans begin exploring other options.

The Texans’ ongoing search for a franchise QB

Houston remains one of the youngest franchises in the NFL, having debuted in 2002. In more than two decades, the Texans have yet to find a truly consistent franchise quarterback, and that search may continue.

If Stroud is unable to establish himself as the long-term answer, he would join a long list of quarterbacks who failed to lead the Texans to sustained success, including David Carr, Matt Schaub, Deshaun Watson, and Ryan Fitzpatrick.

During the game’s broadcast, DeMeco Ryans said “this team has his back,” when asked about Stroud’s performance. Stroud had 10/26 completions, four interceptions (including a pick-6), only one touchdown and a mere 124 yards.

Rumors started to go around that the Texans could bench Stroud in the second half in favor of Davis Mills, but with that statement, Ryans pretty much assured Stroud as the team’s quarterback despite a disastrous first half. Stroud’s performance during the first two quarters was so bad, even Joe Mixon, who is injured, took to socials to post how he felt.

The Texans are so good, they’re still competed

Stroud sent four interceptions, however, the Texans defense is so good the Patriots weren’t able to get a definitive distance in the first half. Stroud’s interceptions were mostly controlled by the Texans defense also provoking fumbles. The unit is too elite.

Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter are arguably the best pass-rusher duo in the NFL. Kamari Lassiter and Derek Stingley Jr. are arguably the best cornerback duo in the league. They also have a Pro Bowl linebacker like Azeez Al-Shaair. With that defense, they can remain in games even when the offense doesn’t click.

Stroud is entering a key moment in his career

Next year will be Stroud’s fourth in the NFL. Hence, the former second overall pick will be trying to prove to the Texans that he is the franchise quarterback. That’s arguably what makes or breaks a QB’s career. If he doesn’t get that contract, it’s likely that he won’t be seen as a franchise QB anymore.

“Take advantage of the turnovers,” Maye told the broadcast of the game before heading into the locker room when asked about his message for the players, letting his Patriots know that they must capitalize on the mistakes by Stroud and the Texans to finish the job in Foxborough.

Stroud got off to a nightmare start at Gillette Stadium, getting intercepted four times as his Texans went to the break trailing 10-21. And the difference could’ve been worse if it wasn’t for the outstanding Houston defense.

NFL world reacts to C.J. Stroud’s first half vs. Patriots

The reactions didn’t take long to emerge, with running back Joe Mixon dropping a six-word message on X as Stroud threw multiple interceptions in the blink of an eye. And of course, fans on social media didn’t waste a second to react either.

Stroud’s four interceptions in the first half led to hilarious memes, as the NFL community couldn’t believe how many possessions the Texans quarterback gave up. In fact, it led many to wonder who’s Stroud’s backup on the depth chart and whether the team should make a change at quarterback for the second half.

Jason Page weighed in on Stroud’s situation on X (@thebackpage): “I hate to make this kind of proclamation in the middle of a game, when there’s still plenty of time left. But you simply cannot win in the playoffs with someone like CJ Stroud making the kinds of decisions and throws he’s making.”

Not all of the backlash was directed solely at Stroud, who was throwing some glaringly poor passes against a Patriots defense that looked razor-sharp at home. Bobby Burack of OutKick used the Texans quarterback’s rough night to take aim at ESPN for what he viewed as embarrassing commentary.

“Ryan Clark is on TV right now saying CJ Stroud deserves a pass. To recap, Clark said Josh Allen has ‘no excuses,’ Lamar Jackson isn’t to blame because football is a team sport, and Stroud isn’t at fault because of injuries. Stroud and Clark share an agent, David Mulugheta. Shame on ESPN for allowing this guy to be part of playoff game coverage,” Burack wrote on X (@burackbobby_).

No mercy for Stroud after a brutal first half

Some of the backlash directed at Stroud even included calls for the Texans’ head coach to pull the quarterback and give Davis Mills a chance, pointing out that Mills had already helped steady the team when Stroud was injured earlier in the season.

“Now it’s on DeMeco Ryans. You have to go to Davis Mills at this point. You can’t allow your team to lose because you’re unwilling to pull the plug (for this game) on your franchise QB. It has to be Davis Mills in the second half. Otherwise, it’s not just a CJ Stroud problem,” Jason Page wrote on X.

“Mannnnn I wish I was playing…” Mixon posted just after CJ Stroud’s third interception of the four he threw in the first half against the Patriots. Mixon missed all season due to a foot injury suffered before the season started.

Mixon signed for the Texans last season and he earned Pro Bowl honors. He racked up 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns. Given that the Texans ranked 22nd in rushing yards per game, it’s safe to say that Mixon was sorely missed by Houston.

Mixon would likely still not be enough

CJ Stroud’s regression is literally a disaster. After a historically good rookie year, the hype was big and Stroud showed potential to be one of the best QBs in the NFL. Fast forward two years, and Stroud is the weak link of an otherwise excellent team in pretty much all facets of the game.

Even if Mixon was playing, Stroud’s mistakes are tough to get around. The Texans literally have the best defense in the NFL, they have good-to-very-good wideouts and with Mixon, a top-tier back too. However, none of that matters if your quarterback gifts the game away.

Stroud also had an erratic Wild Card Round game

The Texans blew the Steelers out in the Wild Card Round, but it wasn’t thanks to Stroud, it was despite him. Stroud had three turnovers, including a red zone pick against Pittsburgh. He was, once again, the player who failed to deliver for Houston.

In fact, two of the touchdowns in that game were scored by the defense. Hence, it’s a very bad streak Stroud is in. Not to mention, Stroud is on the verge of making the team decide if it will pay him a second contract or not. Right now, paying him could be seen as a mistake.

DeMeco Ryans has produced an impressive turnaround for the Texans as a franchise. C.J. Stroud has reached the Divisional Round of the playoffs in each of his first three seasons in the league, but he is precisely the team’s biggest question mark after his shaky performance against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He cannot afford to fail while being supported by the best defense in the NFL.

On the other side, Mike Vrabel has transformed the Patriots after a disappointing season with Jerod Mayo as head coach. Robert Kraft found the ideal man to develop Drake Maye’s talent, and after Tom Brady’s retirement, it seems they have finally found his successor. Incredibly, they are Super Bowl contenders again.

NFL Playoffs 2026: What happens if the Texans lose against the Patriots in the Divisional round?

If the Texans lose to the New England Patriots in the Divisional round of the NFL playoffs, Houston will be officially eliminated. Then, the Patriots would advance to the AFC Championship game and their next rival would be the Denver Broncos without Bo Nix.

What happens if Texans beat Patriots in Divisional round of 2026 NFL playoffs?

If the Texans beat the Patriots in the Divisional Round, New England will be eliminated. Houston would advance to the AFC Championship Game and play on the road against the Broncos. Regardless of who wins today, Denver will host that matchup as the No.1 seed.

NFL Playoffs 2026: What happens if Texans and Patriots end in a tie?

If the Texans and Patriots are tied, the game will be decided in overtime. Both teams are guaranteed a chance to possess the ball, even if the team that receives it first scores a touchdown.

The game can still end on the opening possession if the defense scores on a pick-six or records a safety. If the team that gets the ball first fails to score on its opening possession, or if the game remains tied after both teams have had a possession, the next score of any kind will decide the winner.