Texans QB CJ Stroud Knocked Out Cold By Dirty Hit During Frightening Scene vs. Broncos
November 6, 2025
NFL fans are in shock after a terrifying scene unfolded during the Houston Texans’ matchup against the Denver Broncos.
In the second quarter, CJ Stroud the Texans’ young superstar quarterback was knocked out cold following what many are calling a dirty hit that left him motionless on the field.
It all happened when Stroud attempted to scramble for a first down midway through the second quarter. The play looked routine until it wasn’t.
As Stroud tried to dive forward, he was blindsided by a Broncos defender, whose helmet appeared to connect squarely with Stroud’s jaw. The impact was brutal. Stroud’s head bounced violently off the turf, and the entire stadium went silent.
“He just laid there. You could tell immediately something was wrong,” said one fan who witnessed the hit live.
The young quarterback remained motionless for nearly two minutes as medical staff rushed onto the field.
🙏 The Thumbs Up That Calmed Fan
After a tense few moments that felt like an eternity, Stroud slowly regained consciousness. As trainers helped him to his feet, the crowd erupted in applause.
In a show of courage and composure, Stroud raised his thumb to the fans, signaling that he was conscious and alert.
The image of Stroud giving that thumbs up quickly went viral a powerful symbol of resilience amid chaos.
“Man, that was scary. Glad to see him moving,” one fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Gets hit hard while trying to slide, head slams into the turf. Likely getting a concussion screen pic.twitter.com/QE4it2bWHS
— Tom Christ, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT (@FantasyInjuryT) November 2, 2025
🚑 Taken to the Blue Tent and Locker Room
Moments later, Stroud was escorted to the blue medical tent on the sideline. After a brief evaluation, he was seen walking toward the locker room for further examination.
Reports from the sideline confirmed that Stroud was being tested for a possible concussion, and head coach DeMeco Ryans looked visibly shaken.
“You never want to see your guy go down like that,” Ryans told reporters postgame. “He’s a fighter, and we’re going to take every precaution with him.”
⚠️ The Hit Everyone’s Calling “Dirty”
While replays showed that the hit was hard, fans and analysts are divided on whether it was intentional.
Some believe the Broncos defender went in with bad intent, lowering his head and launching at Stroud a clear violation of the league’s player safety rules.
Others argue it was just a football play that went wrong.
Still, the moment has reignited a major debate about quarterback protection and whether the NFL does enough to safeguard its most valuable players.
“This isn’t the first time we’ve seen a QB get lit up like this,” tweeted @NFLAnalysis. “The league has to do better.”
Here is the hit by Kris Abrams-Draine that injured CJ Stroud. Hit his chest and Stroud’s head slammed hard off turf. No penalty on the play. Crowd furious. Stroud walked off under his own power. That is good news. The reason no penalty is bc no contact to head. So flag picked up… pic.twitter.com/nzDocHvDeL
CJ Stroud isn’t the only young quarterback to face brutal hits this season. In recent weeks, Jayden Daniels and Anthony Richardson have both suffered frightening injuries, sparking questions about the league’s handling of player safety.
Fans can’t help but draw comparisons to Tua Tagovailoa’s 2022 concussion saga, which forced the NFL to review and tighten its concussion protocols.
“These young QBs are the future of the league,” one analyst said on ESPN. “But at this rate, we might lose them to injuries before they even peak.”
🔥 Stroud’s Season So Far
Before the injury, Stroud was in the middle of another gritty performance. The second year QB had thrown for 79 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions, helping the Texans stay competitive in a pivotal matchup.
It’s been an up and down season for Stroud, who’s been vocal about his frustrations with the Texans’ offensive scheme. Sources close to the team say Stroud has been pushing for more control of the play calling and some insiders even claim there’s been tension behind closed doors.
“CJ wants to win his way,” one insider told The Athletic. “He’s confident, maybe too confident for some coaches.”
Wow… extremely dirty hit by #Bengals DE Myles Murphy (99) on CJ Stroud’s head when he is already going down..
Extremely unnecessary play and expect a fine coming his way soon.
With Stroud now sidelined, Houston’s playoff hopes suddenly look shaky. The team entered the game at 4–3, fighting for their second straight win.
Backup QB Davis Mills was seen warming up on the sidelines, ready to step in but the energy of the game clearly shifted after Stroud’s departure.
“That’s our leader,” one teammate said. “When he went down, it took the air out of the team.”
Fans React Across Social Media
As the news spread, the NFL community flooded social media with messages of support.
“Prayers up for CJ Stroud,” posted @NFLFanZone. “That looked scary, but that thumbs-up saved my heart.” “Dirty hit or not, you gotta protect your QB better than that.”
The hashtags #PrayForStroud and #TexansNation started trending within minutes of the hit.
I still can’t believe this hit from Quinnen Williams on C.J. Stroud. It was late, unnecessary, and dirty. It will cost C.J. Stroud at least two games.
How was this not flagged for unnecessary roughness? The NFL didn’t fine Quinnen Williams, either. pic.twitter.com/7lho5aDjJ8
As of early reports, Stroud is undergoing concussion protocol evaluation. The Texans’ medical team has not released a timeline for his return, but insiders say the organization will not rush him back.
This moment serves as yet another reminder of how quickly a season and a player’s career can change in a single play.
💭 Final Thoughts
CJ Stroud’s rise has been one of the most exciting stories in football. From breaking rookie passing records in 2023 to becoming the face of the Houston Texans’ rebuild, he’s earned respect across the league.
That’s why this moment hit fans so hard. Watching one of the NFL’s brightest stars collapse on the field reminded everyone that football’s intensity always comes with a price.
“He’ll be back,” one fan said outside NRG Stadium. “He’s built different.”
As the Texans await updates, one thing is certain CJ Stroud’s fight isn’t over.
💪 The NFL world is rallying behind him, hoping for a full recovery and a quick return to the field.
CJ Stroud took ownership for the illegal motion penalty in which two guys were in motion that wiped away a potential game winning touchdown:
