The Houston Texans signed RB Nick Chubb in June 2025, but joy is short-lived as QB C.J. Stroud faces a shoulder injury scare. How will this impact their season?
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
What a whiplash of a day for Texans fans. The euphoria of signing four-time Pro Bowl running back Nick Chubb was quickly tempered by unsettling reports of a shoulder issue for franchise quarterback C.J. Stroud. In a single news cycle, Houston's offseason went from an unqualified success to a story of immense promise clouded by major concern, leaving the team's AFC South title defense hanging in the balance.
One minute, you're celebrating a four-time Pro Bowl running back. The next, you're praying for your franchise quarterback's throwing shoulder.
The biggest story, and the one that has every fan on edge, is the health of C.J. Stroud. Reports surfaced Tuesday that the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year is dealing with issues in his throwing shoulder. While the team has yet to disclose the severity of the problem, any ailment affecting the arm of your franchise cornerstone is cause for alarm. After a historic rookie season, Stroud is the engine for this team's ambitions. Without him at 100%, the entire calculus for the 2025 season changes.
On the bright side, the Texans' backfield just got a whole lot scarier. The team officially signed former Browns star Nick Chubb to a one-year, $2.28 million contract after he passed his physical. Chubb, 29, brings a career total of 6,843 rushing yards and 51 touchdowns to Houston. While he's coming off two injury-plagued seasons, the plan isn't for him to carry the load alone. He's set to form a fearsome one-two punch with Joe Mixon, giving Houston a thunder-and-thunder combination that could dominate opposing defenses.
The Chubb signing is the latest move in a clear and aggressive strategy by the front office: surround C.J. Stroud with an overwhelming amount of talent. After depth issues proved costly last season, the Texans have loaded up. The backfield now boasts Mixon, Chubb, and rookie Woody Marks. The receiving corps added veteran Christian Kirk and rookies Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel to complement Nico Collins. It's an arsenal built for a championship run, underscoring just how critical Stroud's health is to unlocking its full, terrifying potential.
The Texans have assembled the pieces for a potential offensive juggernaut, adding a legendary name to an already potent mix. But for all the excitement surrounding Nick Chubb's arrival, the team's Super Bowl aspirations now hang in the balance, waiting for positive news on C.J. Stroud's throwing shoulder. Every fan in Houston will be holding their breath until the next medical update.
