C.J. Stroud exits game with apparent head injury after hard hit vs Jets

CJ Stroud has had a long day. The Houston Texans quarterback left the game after suffering a brutal hit in the fourth quarter against the New York Jets. ESPN’s Adam Schefter provided an update on the rookie QB’s condition.

“C.J. Stroud exits game with apparent head injury after hard hit vs Jets,” Schefter wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Stroud will not return to the game, per the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. He is reportedly in concussion protocol. Stroud struggled mightily in the Sunday outing, completing 10-of-his-23 pass attempts for 91 yards while suffering four sacks. He did not throw a touchdown or interception.

CJ Stroud is down and Davis Mills is warming up. pic.twitter.com/APAtxgLsQH

— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) December 10, 2023

CJ Stroud named AFC Offensive Player of the Month

CJ Stroud’s slow performance on Sunday was unusual. The former Ohio State standout has been electric this season. For his efforts, the NFL named him as AFC Offensive Player of the Month for November.

He threw for 1,466 yards and a dozen touchdowns in November, while registering a QB rating of 109.9. The Texans sported a 3-1 record during this stretch, losing only to the Jaguars, their AFC South Division rivals. Houston’s long-distance field goal to tie the game in the final moments bounced off the crossbar. 

Meanwhile, Chargers linebacker Khalil Mack earned defensive honors, with Broncos kicker Wil Lutz taking special teams player of the month.

Here’s why the NFL said it selected CJ Stroud as the top AFC offensive player.

“Rookie or not, Stroud shined above the rest of the AFC offensive heavyweights. As the Texans went 3-1 in November, Stroud eclipsed 300 yards passing in each contest, totaling 1,466 passing yards for the month. Stroud completed 106 of 154 passes (68.8%) in that span, throwing for 10 touchdowns, and adding a pair of rushing TDs. Stroud is the front-runner for Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year this season and might well have thrust himself into the AP NFL Most Valuable Player conversation, as well.”

In addition, Stroud won Rookie of the Month, with Tampa Bay’s Calijah Klancey winning defensive honors. To put what CJ Stroud did into context, he’s only the second rookie quarterback in NFL history to win AFC monthly offensive honors. The first to do so was Deshaun Watson. Coincidentally, Watson also was with the Texans when he won the honor in October 2017.

On3’s Suzanne Halliburton also contributed to this article.