The Houston Texans and their fanbase are down and out today after seeing their team get eliminated from the playoffs on Sunday. C.J. Stroud‘s four-interception performance was the biggest story of the day, as the former first-round pick had arguably the worst game of his career at the worst possible time.
It wasn’t just that Stroud was extremely turnover-prone. He also completed just 42.6% of his passes, the second-lowest rate of his NFL career. Overall, it left Texans fans concerned, not just in the moment, but for the future of Houston’s offense. Some even wondered if backup quarterback Davis Mills should replace Stroud as he continued to struggle.
While Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans brought clarity to Houston’s QB situation after the game ended by saying there was never any consideration given to replace Stroud with Mills, it didn’t do anything to quell long-term concerns.
On Monday, with less than 24 hours to reflect on their postseason loss, Ryans was again asked about Stroud. This time, the questioning focused on Stroud’s long-term future and whether the Texans would be signing their franchise quarterback to an extension this offseason, since it’s the first time he’ll be eligible to negotiate a new deal.
Yet, when given a chance to comment, Ryans didn’t commit to his 24-year-old Pro Bowl QB. He instead deflected the line of questioning, opting to kick that can down the line.
When asked about C.J. Stroud and a potential long-term extension now or waiting, etc, #Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said: 'I'm not getting into that right now' @KPRC2
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) January 19, 2026
For the record, Stroud is under contract with Houston through 2026, but they have a team option that will likely get exercised. If so, Stroud will be tied to the Texans through 2027. The question is whether they’re ready to make an even longer-term commitment, as teams typically do with their franchise quarterbacks.
Teams often deflect these big-picture questions, especially right after the season ended, because they just got off an emotional rollercoaster and they need more time to reflect. That could be the case here.
Or, perhaps Ryans knows that it’s not even up to him whether Stroud receives a contract extension. Ryans’ job is to coach his team, with a special focus on the defense, not to negotiate contracts with his players. Still, it’s a fascinating response about a player who many thought was poised to become one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks after leading his team to the playoffs as a rookie.
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