CJ Stroud named AFC offensive Player of the Month, Rookie of the Month

Texans quarterback CJ Stroud is experiencing an idyllic rookie season. On Thursday, the NFL named him as AFC Offensive Player of the Month for November.

Stroud, the No. 2 pick of April’s draft, has led the Texans back into NFL relevancy. 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.

AFC Players of the Month! (November)@CJ7STROUD | @FiftyDeuce | @wil_lutz5 pic.twitter.com/U4P5xYutJL

— NFL (@NFL) November 30, 2023

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.

.@NFL Rookies of the Month – November pic.twitter.com/t7zigAJdmy

— NFL345 (@NFL345) November 30, 2023

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.