Every football season, countless NFL analysts across various websites make bold predictions. However, part of the idea of these predictions is that they could actually happen even if they are unlikely.
It does not seem CBS Sportsgot that memo when delivering their bold predictions for the Houston Texans, saying that quarterback C.J. Stroud will get benched.
"The 2023 QB class is going to be a disaster in 2026. We won't see Anthony Richardson Sr. play, plus C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young will both be benched at some point despite signing fifth-year options. Houston will send Stroud a message at some point in 2026 by benching him in favor of Davis Mills as the team has a Super Bowl-caliber defense but an offense that continues to underachieve," CBS
Sports wrote. "The Texans didn't pull the plug last postseason when Stroud had five fumbles and five interceptions in two games, but their patience will run out in 2026. I hope this prediction doesn't come true, but in a league where first-round quarterbacks are getting tossed to the curb at prolific rates, I wouldn't be shocked if Stroud was the next casualty."
There's a sense from the outside that Stroud should have been benched in the divisional round playoff game because he was clearly off and Houston actually might have had a better chance of winning the game with Davis Mills. However, to believe that the Texans will make a Super Bowl run with Mills at quarterback seems outlandish.
One bold prediction for every NFL team from CBS Sports...Stroud to get benched? pic.twitter.com/ASSjoAFgcO
— Jeremy Branham (@JeremyBranham) August 31, 2026
Part of the problem with Houston’s offense last season was that they lacked a consistent and reliable run game. When an offense is one-sided like the Texans were last season, it puts far more pressure on the quarterback to perform and that came to a head in the playoffs last year.
With running back David Montgomery on the roster this season, Stroud will not have the same pressure he did last season since the Texans will actually be able to run the ball.
Another factor that will impact Houston’s decision to keep Stroud on the field as opposed to trying out Mills is the schedule. The Texans have an unforgiving schedule throughout most of the season with the first three games against the Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals and Indianapolis Colts.
All of these teams are playoff contenders and Houston needs a quarterback with Stroud’s talent in the game to have a chance at winning these games.
In the middle of their schedule are other difficult teams such as the Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Chargers and Baltimore Ravens. Their final three games of the year are against the Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers and Tennessee Titans. Except the Titans, these are all playoff contenders.
Mills, who guided the Texans to a 3-0 record last season, is not someone who can lead Houston’s offense to an elongated winning streak. In two of his starts, he needed to fight to come back in low-scoring affairs.
Stroud has the talent and potential to get the Texans past the divisional round and into the AFC Championship and maybe even the Super Bowl. Stroud will not get benched this season.
The Texans open the regular season at home against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Sept. 13.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: CBS Sports predicts Texans QB C.J. Stroud will get benched this season
