Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans and general manager Nick Caserio previously voiced their support for C.J. Stroud after the quarterback endured a couple of rough outings during this past winter’s postseason tournament. 

While speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Ryans touched upon what he has noticed about Stroud over the past couple of months. 

C.J. Stroud “in full grind mode” after playoff flops

“I see a guy who’s dialed in to the offseason and really working,” Ryans said about Stroud, per Mike Jones of The Athletic. “The past couple offseasons, he hasn’t had that full time to really — whether it was injury or other things — he hasn’t had that full time to dedicate himself to the offseason. So, I see a guy, he’s in full grind mode right now. So I’m excited to see what comes from the work that he’s putting in. It’s only going to be better. The mindset is right. Physically, he’s in a really good space. Mentally in a really good space. I’m excited to see him get back to work.” 

While the Texans advanced to the divisional round of the playoffs, Stroud threw five interceptions and lost two of five fumbles across those two postseason games. Most notably, he was intercepted four times in the first half of Houston’s 28-16 loss at the New England Patriots on Jan. 18.

Houston is expected to pick up the fifth-year option for 2027 attached to Stroud’s rookie contract, but Jones noted that “it remains to be seen” if the Texans will offer the 24-year-old a lucrative extension before the 2026 season gets underway. Caserio made multiple moves in March to bolster the club’s offensive line, seemingly with the hope that such transactions would help Stroud reclaim the form that made him the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award winner for the 2023 campaign. 

Expectations for C.J. Stroud are high heading into a pivotal season

“The investments we made in the offensive line (have) really enhanced our team, right? And C.J. should be a beneficiary of that as well,” Ryans added during his comments. “He’s excited about the moves we made.” 

If those investments don’t result in Stroud making a major leap later this year, Caserio and Ryans may need to have some difficult conversations regarding the franchise’s quarterback situation.