Former Texans DT Gets Honest About C.J. Stroud Amid Strong Words

Week 1’s uneven start for C.J. Stroud has sparked debate among former Texans players, with Seth Payne arguing the Houston quarterback “mostly played well” despite mistakes. Payne said Stroud was dealing with a brand-new Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator and had to make adjustments on the fly, while also noting Stroud was involved in the run game and helped convert multiple short-yardage situations, including third-and-short and fourth-and-shorts. Damien Harris echoed that there were positives to build on, but pointed to costly late-game errors that can’t happen. Contract talks also intensified, as Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson discussed whether Houston can meet Stroud’s reportedly $70 million-range demands.