Texans' Trent Brown Expresses Confidence in QB CJ Stroud

Veteran offensive tackle believes Stroud will bounce back after tough 2025 playoffs.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 8:12pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented football game or match, with sharp, overlapping planes of navy blue, hunter green, and burnt orange, conveying the complex dynamics between an offensive lineman and his quarterback.Trent Brown's unwavering belief in his young quarterback could be the key to CJ Stroud's redemption in Houston.Houston Today

Despite a brutal postseason performance in 2025 that saw Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud struggle with turnovers, veteran offensive tackle Trent Brown has expressed strong belief that the young QB will rebound and become an even stronger leader for the team in 2026.

Why it matters

Stroud's future with the Texans organization is uncertain after his poor playoff showing, but Brown's public vote of confidence could help rebuild the team's and fans' trust in the 24-year-old quarterback.

The details

After a promising rookie season in 2023 that saw him named Offensive Rookie of the Year, Stroud's play took a sharp downturn in the 2025 playoffs. Over two postseason games, he threw five interceptions, lost five fumbles, and completed just 51.9% of his passes. This poor performance overshadowed an excellent showing from the Texans' defense. While Stroud's job is not in immediate jeopardy, the Texans will need to see significant improvement before deciding whether to sign him to a long-term extension.

  • In the 2025 postseason, Stroud struggled mightily, throwing 5 interceptions and losing 5 fumbles.
  • Stroud's 5th-year option was picked up by the Texans, giving the team two more years to evaluate him.

The players

Trent Brown

A veteran offensive tackle for the Houston Texans who has publicly expressed confidence in quarterback CJ Stroud's ability to bounce back from a tough 2025 season.

CJ Stroud

The Houston Texans' 24-year-old quarterback who had a promising rookie season in 2023 but struggled mightily in the 2025 playoffs, raising questions about his long-term future with the team.

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What they’re saying

“I expect C.J. to get better. I think C.J. is going to come in and be even more of a leader than he's been. I think his approach will be different.”

— Trent Brown, Offensive Tackle, Houston Texans

What’s next

The Texans will need to see significant improvement from Stroud in the 2026 season before deciding whether to sign him to a long-term contract extension.

The takeaway

Trent Brown's public show of support for Stroud could help rebuild the young quarterback's confidence and the team's faith in him, but the Texans will ultimately need to see tangible on-field progress to commit to Stroud long-term after his disastrous 2025 postseason performance.