Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud earns NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month

The NFL has named Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month for September.

Stroud becomes the first Texans rookie to win the award since 2017 and the eighth player in team history to earn such an honor.

The No. 2 overall pick completed 78-of-121 pass attempts (64.5%) for 906 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions with 98.0 passer rating. Stroud is first in all major passing categories among rookies across the NFL including completions, yards, passer rating, touchdown passes, touchdown-interception ratio, yards per attempt and more.

Stroud’s completion percentage, completions, passing yards, passing touchdowns, and passer rating all rank first by a Texans rookie through the first three weeks of any season. The former Ohio State product’s passer rating is also the third-highest in league history by a rookie in the same time frame.

Stroud is the first Texans offensive rookie to win the award since October 2017. Receiver DeAndre Hopkins secured the award in September 2013. Running back Steve Slaton picked up the honor in December 2008. Running back Domanick Williams was the first Texans offensive rookie to earn the award in October 2003.

Week 2 against the Indianapolis Colts was when Stroud built the bulk of his campaign for rookie of the month. In the 31-20 loss at NRG Stadium, Stroud completed 30 passes on 47 attempts for 384 yards, two touchdowns, and a 103.5 passer rating. Not only were they the second-most passing yards in team history for a rookie, but they were the second-most by a player 21-or-younger since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. Only Matthew Stafford’s 422 in 2009 were more.

Stroud’s 906 passer yards are also the third-most in NFL history for a rookie through Week 3. Only Cam Newton’s 1,012 in 2011 and Justin Herbert’s 931 in 2020 are more.

Stroud has also surpassed Warren Moon (103), Carson Wentz (102), Case Keenum (102) and Tom Brady (101) for most passes attempted to begin a career without an interception with 121 and counting.

In total, the Texans now have nine total rookie of the month winners, including coach DeMeco Ryans as a linebacker in December 2006.