CJ Stroud left Sunday’s NFL game between the Houston Texans and Denver Broncos with a head injury. It is proof the league is finally punishing quarterbacks for late slides.
The officials decided not to throw a flag.
Although it would be obviously preferable if we lived in a world where injuries did not exist, that is not reality. And it is nice to see the NFL calling games with logic and reason instead of for the quarterbacks.
CJ Stroud left the game with a head injury.
The play in question took place early in the second quarter. Stroud dropped back to pass on 3rd-and-8 but none of his receivers were open so he took off running.
A pair of Broncos defenders closed on the Texans’ quarterback after a gain of about five. Defensive back Kris Abrams-Draine got to him first and laid a big hit.
Stroud tried to slide but he got licked anyway. His body went into fencing response as he laid on the field.
Uh oh… CJ Stroud is down after that hit.#Texans #CJStroud #NFL pic.twitter.com/ZVKZ6h1we7
— Aggregate Sports (@AggregateSports) November 2, 2025
The hit was not directly to the head but Stroud bounced off of the turf.
#Texans QB CJ Stroud went down in a lot of pain. Was able to get up and walk off with the help of trainers: pic.twitter.com/3eMx8lEjAu
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulliNFL) November 2, 2025
He stayed down for quite some time.
C.J. Stroud was slow to get up after taking a hit while sliding. He was later able to walk to the medical tent. pic.twitter.com/aJ7Fgp3179
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) November 2, 2025
Fortunately, CJ Stroud was able to walk off of the field under his own power. The 24-year-old also gave a thumbs up to the crowd on his way to the sideline.
CJ Stroud walks off the field, gives a thumbs up after Head injury. pic.twitter.com/vVDIwVbJvI
— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) November 2, 2025
That is obviously a good sign but Houston will likely be without its starting quarterback for at least a week while he clears concussion protocol. We’ll see.
The NFL actually did the right thing.
As you can see in the video above, officials immediately threw a penalty flag as soon as Abrams-Draine made contact with Stroud. They might’ve thought it was targeting. They might’ve thought it was late.
To be protected, an NFL quarterback must initiate a feet-first slide and touch the ground with anything other than his hands or feet before defensive contact is imminent.
There is no question that CJ Stroud tried to give himself up on the slide. However, he did not do so before contact was imminent. Abrams-Draine also did not lead with the crown of his helmet.
As a result, the officials chose to pick up the flag. A penalty was not assessed on the Broncos.
That was the correct decision.
Quarterbacks should be protected. Defenders should not be penalized when a quarterback slides late.