C.J. Stroud is second rookie QB to accomplish this milestone

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud. Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Texans' C.J. Stroud is second rookie QB to ever accomplish latest milestone

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 11/30/23

Houston Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud all but has the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award locked up, and he’s firmly in the conversation for the league MVP Award as well.

The Ohio State alum continues to put up video game numbers for the 6-5 Texans, and his latest accomplishment puts him in an exclusive club of only two.

Stroud joined Deshaun Watson of the Cleveland Browns as the only rookie QBs in NFL history to ever be named Offensive Player of the Month.

C.J. Stroud is eyeing the top spot pic.twitter.com/GKTOPmJCVx
— NFL (@NFL) November 22, 2023

Stroud won the award for the AFC for November, in which he led the Texans to wins in three of four games and threw for 1,466 yards, 10 touchdowns and four interceptions. He had 300 or more yards in every game, including a 470-yard, five-touchdown performance in a 39-37 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Nov. 5.

Beyond quarterback, only four rookies have ever won a conference Offensive Player of the Month award —Kareem Hunt (September 2017), Mike Anderson (December 2000), Edgerrin James (November 1999) and Barry Sanders (December 1989). All four were running backs.

Watson accomplished his feat in October 2017, also as a member of the Texans, when he completed 77 of 124 passes (62.1 completion percentage) for 1,171 yards (292.7 yards per game), 16 touchdowns and five interceptions and a passer rating of 113.7 — far above the league average of 86.9 that season, per StatMuse.

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