Nick Caserio and the Houston Texans’ front office have plenty to sort through this offseason. And while tight end Dalton Schultz is not among them, quarterback C.J. Stroud is, and he looms large over the Texans heading into the offseason.
Stroud is extension-eligible, but he is coming off a rough two-game stint in the playoffs.
Schultz, who must be mindful of his own career trajectory in a league known for short tenures, spoke candidly about his surprisingly polarizing QB.
Texans’ C.J. Stoud Gets Telling Comments From Dalton Schultz
GettyC.J. Stroud #7 of the Houston Texans takes the field before a game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Schultz led the Texans in receptions, operating as Stroud’s second-most-sought-after target behind wide receiver Nico Collins. His presence was particularly noticeable after he exited the Texans’ loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Divisional Playoffs.
Schultz noted that in detailing his previous message to Stroud.
The tight end signed with the Texans in free agency during the same offseason Houston made Stroud the No. 2 overall pick of the 2023 draft.
“The results are what they are. And I feel like–I’ve told him this when he came in–it’s like, ‘Dude, everything is going to fall on you, good or bad. And you got to be the leader to be able to take it and roll, again, whether it’s good or bad,” Schultz said on SportsRadio 610 on February 5.
“Obviously, I think, just the results of that game, it’s hard to pin it all on him. As a player, in my eyes, that game is my fault. I left the game in the first quarter, you know what I mean? That was a big game plan for me, and I wasn’t able to be out there. And my process was exactly the same that I’ve done all year, every year. And I look back, and I’m like, ‘Well, shoot. Obviously, I didn’t do enough to get my body where it needed to be in that moment.”
Schultz said that it has been “literally all I’ve been thinking about.”
He doubled down on his defense of Stroud. Notably, Stroud heeded his teammate’s advice, expressing remorse and guilt, vowing to come back better next season.
Teammates Still Behind C.J. Stroud
GettyC.J. Stroud #7 of the Houston Texans looks on before a game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Despite what Schultz called “outside noise,” the Texans remain firmly behind Stroud “100%” even after his tumultuous postseason showing.
“It’s just noise, dude. Everybody was also calling for everybody’s jobs, everybody be fired when you’re 0-3. It’s the same as our job as players and everybody else,” Schultz said. “That’s not our focus. That’s not our job. Our job is to go out there and perform, make sure we’re good. So again, it’s noise, dude. Whether you believe in him or not, does that affect whether he’s gonna be the same player, a better player? That has no effect on him, right?
“None of that affects the process of whether he’s truly going to grow or not.”
Schultz took it a step further, saying that it “doesn’t mean anything” to him. Instead, what is “most important” is whether he and his teammates are willing to be introspective in their approach to what went awry against the Patriots.
“I look at that film again. I should have done way more on the front end,” Schultz said. “If you have a bunch of guys that go and look at that, realize the same thing, and come together and find a way to just build on the good and learn from the bad in going into next year, it’s all you can do, dude.”
Schultz noted how much more comfortable he was in the Texans’ offense under first-year coordinator Nick Caley, whom Stroud has lauded. That helped the tight end have a career year.
The Texans can only hope experience and continuity have a similar impact on Stroud.
Dalton Schultz Gets Honest About Loss to Patriots
GettyDalton Schultz #86 of the Houston Texans warms up before taking on the Carolina Panthers.
Schultz, Stroud, and the Texans could end up being able to say they had their season ended by the Super Bowl champions, but that is not a consolation prize after they lost a game they were in until late.
“It sucks, because there’s one team that’s on top. And we feel like we had a team to challenge that spot, and we didn’t perform in that game,” Schultz said.
“We came [to Santa Clara for the Super Bowl] because I love being in the Bay. But being reminded that we fell short, especially this year? Because everybody realized what we had, and how good of a team we had, and the opportunity that we had. To come up short, not have that, I think, feels extra. Dude, it’s a sucker punch. Truly, I still haven’t gotten over it, to be honest.”
Stroud and Schultz have all the motivation they need for the Texans in 2026.
Texans QB C.J. Stroud Gets Strong Words Amid Looming Situation