The first three games for Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud were nearly unwatchable.
The last five quarters, however, he’s been unstoppable and a record-setter.
The Texans have been enjoying their bye week as they look to regroup, reassess and heal as a franchise before facing off against four potential playoff teams, including one on Monday Night Football in Week 7.
Houston needs Stroud to remain the quarterback who tore up the Tennessee Titans’ secondary and laid waste to the Baltimore Ravens. Over his last five quarters, Stroud has completed over 81 percent of his passes for 332 yards and five touchdown passes. He also picked up AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors for his performance in a dominant victory over the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium.
CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin compiled his latest quarterback power rankings and noted that Stroud has improved enough to warrant the preseason praise. While he still has yet to reach the top 10, Benjamin moved Stroud up two spots, including ahead of both Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence and Tennessee’s Cam Newton, to slot in at No. 16 overall.
“The old Stroud might finally be emerging as Houston finds its offensive footing,” Benjamin wrote. “It helps he’s faced some porous defenses the last two weeks, but maybe all No. 7 needed was to rebuild some confidence as a pure pocket passer.”
The Texans, who sit at 2-3, will hit the road before returning for three straight home games on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos and Jacksonville Jaguars.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans: C.J. Stroud moves up in newest CBS Sports QB rankings
