Texans' C.J. Stroud discusses cognitive test criticisms

Following Saturday's 45-14 wild-card playoff victory over the Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud took the high road when asked about criticisms related to the poor score he reportedly posted in the S2 Cognition Test ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft. 

"I’m too blessed to stress," Stroud told NBC Sports' Peter King. "I mean, it’s just extra motivation. I don’t play this game to prove people wrong. I play this game for the audience of one, God. And then to prove the people who love me and believe in me right. You know? I feel like I’ve done that this year. I just want to keep that going. I don’t really focus on the negativity."

While the Carolina Panthers drafted Alabama Crimson Tide signal-caller Bryce Young first overall, as had been expected, those running the Texans likely feel blessed Stroud fell to Houston at pick No. 2. According to ESPN stats, Stroud finished the regular season ranked sixth in the NFL among qualified players with a 100.8 passer rating and first with 273.9 passing yards per game. Across 15 contests, the presumed 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year tossed 23 touchdown passes and only five interceptions. 

Cleveland entered this past weekend leading the NFL in total defense with an average of 270.2 yards surrendered per game. On Saturday afternoon, Stroud completed 16-of-21 passes for 274 yards and three touchdowns before he was given a chance to watch the closing minutes of the victory as a resting spectator. 

"I think the combination of vision, his ability to move within the pocket and remain an elite passer, how he still can get really good velocity on some of these throws, and do it under pressure, you just don’t see that in a rookie," Houston backup quarterback Case Keenum told King about Stroud. "But you see it with C.J. every game. We’ve seen it since day one. I can tell you—we didn’t put in any rookie game plans this year...From week one, it’s been serious NFL football that he’s playing. And there’s something about him when the lights come on in big spots. He’s elite." 

As Chad Washington of Houston's CW39 explained, the No. 4 Texans will play at the top-seeded Baltimore Ravens this coming Saturday if the No. 2 Buffalo Bills beat the No. 7 Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday afternoon. Houston will face the No. 3 Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday if Pittsburgh beats Buffalo at Highmark Stadium. 

It sounds like Stroud won't lose any sleep regardless of his next playoff opponent. 

"I just never expect not to play well," a confident Stroud told King.