Quarterback C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans had the bye week to rest up before taking on the Seattle Seahawks in Week 7, and they enter the contest with new concerns about one of their top playmakers, wide receiver Christian Kirk.
The Texans acquired Kirk from the Jacksonville Jaguars.
A hamstring injury interrupted Kirk’s early tenure this offseason, and a similar injury threatens to hinder or possibly even sideline him against the Seahawks.
Christian Kirk Injury Bad News for C.J. Stroud, Texans
GettyChristian Kirk #13 of the Houston Texans catches a pass against the Baltimore Ravens.
Kirk is on an expiring four-year, $72 million contract that he signed while with the Jaguars, and is supposed to be a safety valve for Stroud in the Texans’ offense. He missed Weeks 1 and 2 with his initial injury.
Most notably, he was not on the injury report this week until Friday.
The Texans do not play until “Monday Night Football,” so the next update is likely to come from head coach DeMeco Ryans on Saturday.
“#Texans wide receiver Christian Kirk added to injury report as limited, hamstring again,” KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson reported on X before following up with an article detailing the veteran’s tumultuous start in Houston.
Kirk, who turns 29 in November, has caught 10 passes for 109 yards this season.
He has battled injuries for much of his career, and this latest potential setback comes just as the Texans had found a rhythm offensively.
“If Kirk can’t go or is limited Monday night against the Seattle Seahawks, the Texans will lean on Xavier Hutchinson, Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel to complement Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins,” Wilson wrote in his follow-up piece.
C.J. Stroud Draws Attention as Texans Return From Bye Week
GettyC.J. Stroud #7 of the Houston Texans takes the field before a game against the Carolina Panthers.
There was a lot to like about the direction Stroud and the Texans’ offense were trending before the bye week. Moreover, the third-year QB believes some of it can carry over as they move throughout the regular season and, they hope, an extended playoff run.
Stroud and the Texans averaged 385 total yards of offense and 35 points per game in Weeks 4 and 5, earning their first wins of 2025 against the Baltimore Ravens and the Tennessee Titans.
Stroud was optimistic about the offense’s strides, and he drew attention for his remarks.
“I think we’re starting to find our identity and being versatile,” Stroud told reporters on October 16. “A lot of guys touched the ball against Baltimore. I think that’s a good thing. So, some things we can keep up, and keep up our tempo and getting in and out the huddle, just operational things, is good. So, keeping all that stuff up.”
Stroud was not pleased with everything the Texans did over the first five weeks of the season, though. He said he did some self-scouting during the team’s bye week. And while he did not disclose his findings, he did note some things he prefers the Texans stop doing.
“I’ll just keep that kind of to myself on what we think,” Stroud said. “But there were some things where I think we can build upon, and there are some things that I think we shouldn’t do anymore. We should just move on, try some other things. But I thought what we did coming to practice last Wednesday was really helpful to work on some of the things that we need to work on from just a big-picture standpoint as a offense.”
Christian Kirk’s Potential Absence Looms Large in Week 7
GettyChristian Kirk #13 of the Houston Texans looks on before the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
That the Texans had their three best offensive performances of the season with Kirk could be coincidental. They have increased their yardage in each subsequent game since their loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 1.
Stroud’s candor drew attention, as the QB found his stride as well.
Stroud has thrown for 1,076 yards, 8 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions on 70.8% completion this season. He had a 477-6-0 combined line on 81.8% completion against the Ravens and Titans.
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