Christian Kirk wasn't in Houston for C.J. Stroud's sophomore slump, and he doesn't see it bleeding into the season ahead.
The new Texans wide receiver has quickly become impressed with Stroud since joining the team in an intradivisional trade from the Jaguars this offseason.
"The thing that sticks out about C.J. is he's super mild-mannered, but he has a lot of confidence and he's smart. He sees things well," Kirk said on SiriusXM NFL Radio. "He's a really good communicator. I think at that position, especially being a quarterback and him being a younger guy, that's a big part of him getting to where he is now and still excelling.
"He's gonna take this team as far as we want to go. … He's been great just within the few months of spending time around him, communicating with him in the locker room, outside of the facility, whatever the case may be. He's got a bright future. Really excited to get to work with him."
Stroud took a step back in 2024 following his AP Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign, throwing for 3,727 yards, 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions compared to his first-year stat line of 4,108 yards, 23 TDs and five INTs. His passer rating dropped from 100.8 to 87.0.
Houston's offense fell from 13th in scoring to 19th, and 7th to 21st in passing yards.
Stroud's leadership ability was never in question, though. He still guided the Texans to a second straight trip to the AFC Divisional Round, and the qualities that made such a run possible despite failing to fully click offensively have again been on display for Kirk to see throughout the offseason.
Like Stroud, Kirk is in search of some redemption heading into his eighth NFL season. He disappeared at times in Jacksonville last year, logging a single catch in three of his eight games played. He missed the team's final nine contests due to a broken collarbone, which resulted in career lows across the board: 27 catches for 379 yards and a score.
Shipped to Houston for a seventh-rounder, Kirk has a chance to bounce back and play a pivotal role in the Texans' quest to make a third consecutive postseason trip for the first time in franchise history.
He joins a transformed WR corps led by Nico Collins, the big-bodied Pro Bowler riding a two-year streak of 1,000-yard receiving seasons. While Tank Dell continues to rehab from his knee dislocation that involved a torn ACL and MCL, Day 2 rookies from the 2025 draft -- Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel -- will likely be asked to make a mark early.
Kirk, the most experienced member of the WR room, should be a boon to Higgins and Noel's development, but he also possesses the perfect speedy skill set to pair with Collins, allowing him to earn usage as the rookies come along and create mismatches in the passing game.
The running back room is flush with talent, highlighted by Joe Mixon, recent signee Nick Chubb and fourth-round draft pick Woody Marks.
On defense, Houston boasts a dominant pass-rushing duo in Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter, supported on the back end by a young secondary that came into its own in 2024 and projects to take another step in 2025.
There's talent up and down Houston's roster, even if the hype and expectations feel diminished compared to an offseason ago.
Kirk is ready to play his part, and he's buying into Stroud leading them all to the top.
