Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud has all sorts of built-in excuses to struggle as a rookie starter this season.
He was playing for a team that went 4-13 last season. He was playing for a first-time head coach in DeMeco Ryans, whose background is on defense. He was playing for a first-time offensive coordinator in Bobby Slowik. He was playing in an offense that was mostly rebuilt — just two returning full-time starters.
He was playing with modest weapons, with declining Robert Woods the big offseason addition. He was playing behind an offensive line starting together for the first time — and then lost its best player, left tackle Laremy Tunsil, to a knee injury in Week 1.