Peyton Manning defends CJ Stroud doubters criticizing him for 'down year' in 2024

Peyton Manning defended CJ Stroud doubters following his 2024 season with the Houston Texans. Some may say the former Ohio State quarterback went through a sophomore slump.

Manning, a Hall of Fame quarterback in his own right, put it into perspective and didn’t want to hear takes like that. What Stroud accomplished with the Texans in just two seasons can’t be understated.

Stroud’s expectations went through the roof after having a great rookie campaign. Sometimes, those are unfair expectations.

“I always talk about how hard it is as a rookie to play,” Manning said at Fanatics Fest. “CJ kind of goes obviously, it’s not that hard, because he dominated as a rookie. And what does that do? It gives defenses more film to look at, to know what they have to do, to try to stop him in his second year, right? As a rookie, they don’t know what you’re going to do. But guess who gets to figure out what defenses are doing? CJ (Stroud) does by watching film … Everybody wants to judge right away. Oh, great rookie year, second year (not as good). By the way, he went to the playoffs in his second year. He was 22. 

“Let’s be careful saying it was a down year. Okay, I didn’t win a playoff game till my sixth year, right? And so he’s two for two, and that’s all he’s trying to do, is give the Texans a chance. He’s got a great leader, you have a new coordinator as well, with DeMeco leading the charge, there’s going to be tremendous, you know, accountability and, you know, talent and just leadership every single year. So there’s my ESPN2 analysis on this.”

Stroud threw for 3,727 yards, 20 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and a 63.2% completion percentage in 2024. In two years, he has 7,835 yards, 43 touchdowns, 17 interceptions and a 63.5% completion percentage.

Stroud will have to be protected next year if Houston wants to succeed. The Texans recent;y overhauled the offensive line to improve the pass protection.

Houston traded Laremy Tunsil to the Washington Commanders, Kenyon Green to the Philadelphia Eagles and Shaq Mason was released. They signed Cam Robinson, Trent Brown and Laken Tomlinson in free agency.

Not only that, Stroud will see new faces in Ed Ingram, whom they traded for, and rookie Aireontae Ersery. Ersery was drafted with the No. 48 overall pick out of Minnesota.