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Texans rookie QB CJ Stroud is off to a legendary start

profilephotocropby:Suzanne Halliburton•10/04/23•

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cj stroud
Troy Taormina/USA TODAY Sports

CJ Stroud, the rookie Texans quarterback, celebrated his 22nd birthday this week with a win and the knowledge that he’s kicking off his NFL career the way so many legends did before him.

Yes, Stroud’s stats through four games are on track to break Andrew Luck’s rookie record from 11 years ago. But in this next stat, we’re not talking rookie records. Rather, we’re talking how Stroud’s numbers compare overall. Although he’s but a rookie, Stroud has averaged more than 300 passing yards per game, with no interceptions. Here are the other quarterbacks to do so:

Peyton Manning (2013)

Tom Brady (2015-17)

Drew Brees (2018)

Patrick Mahomes (2018-19)

Aaron Rodgers (2020)

One quarterback already is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Brees, Brady, Mahomes and Rodgers should get in the first year of eligibility.

CJ Stroud currently at top of stacked rookie QB class

The Texans lost their first two games of the season. And now, they’re riding a two-game winning streak with upset victories over Jacksonville and Pittsburgh. The Steelers win was a 30-6 quality thumping.

Now, big things were expected from CJ Stroud. The Texans selected the former Ohio State star with the second pick of April’s NFL Draft. Bryce Young (Carolina) and Anthony Richardson (Colts) went at picks 1 and 4. All three of the QBs earned starting spot by opening Sunday. If you’re curious, Young is averaging 167.7 yards per game to kick off his career. He also has thrown a couple of interceptions. However, he missed a start with a sprained ankle. Meanwhile, Richardson is averaging 239.5 yards per game with a couple of interceptions.

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Stroud has thrown for 1,212 yards this season. And the only rookie quarterback in NFL history who had more yards through four games was Cam Newton, the top pick of the 2011 draft. Newton, however, didn’t get through his first four games without an interception. He had five, including three in his second game (against the Packers).

It’s still way too early, but Texans QB CJ Stroud is on track for 5,000 passing yards, which would shatter Andrew Luck’s rookie record. Luck set the standard in 2012. (Matt Kryger/IndyStar via Imagn Content Services)

If CJ Stroud continues this torrid pace, he’ll easily chug past 5,000 yards. No rookie has come close to that number. Luck owns the rookie yardage record of 4,374. He also threw for 23 touchdowns against 18 interceptions. And through four games, Luck almost had as many yards as Stroud and Newton. He also threw five interceptions.

Robert Griffin III, an ESPN analyst and one-time NFL quarterback, hints we should stop place the rookie next to Stroud’s name.

Griffin tweeted:”CJ Stroud isn’t just the Texans’ Franchise QB. He is a TOP 10 QB in the NFL already. The numbers back it up, the film backs it up and he passes the eye test with FLYING COLORS.”

Stroud and the Texans will ride their two-game winning streak into Atlanta this Sunday.