When the Houston Texans made a blockbuster trade to acquire star wide receiver Stefon Diggs from the Buffalo Bills in the offseason, expectations soared. Many believed the addition of Diggs would transform an already promising Houston offense, led by rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, into one of the most explosive units in the league. However, seven games into the season, the results have fallen short of those lofty projections.
The Texans, despite their 5-2 record, are scoring fewer points per game than they did a year ago. Stroud, who showed flashes of brilliance early in the season, is now throwing for nearly 60 fewer yards per game compared to the start of the campaign.
While Diggs has put up respectable numbers, his presence has not translated into the offensive firepower Houston hoped for. Instead, the team has struggled to find consistency and rhythm.
Tensions seemed to boil over during Sunday’s 24-22 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Before the game even began, Diggs found himself in a heated altercation with Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander. The two players, who have a history of trash talk, exchanged words during pregame warm-ups, with the situation nearly escalating into a physical confrontation.
Unfortunately for Diggs, the rivalry spilled over into the game itself, where Alexander got the better of him, limiting the star wideout to just five catches for 23 yards. It was Diggs’ least productive performance of the season.
To make matters worse, Stroud struggled mightily, throwing for a career-low 86 yards, and the Texans’ offense never got going. The lack of chemistry between Stroud and Diggs was evident throughout the game, with missed connections and poor execution contributing to the offense’s stagnant performance.
After the game, Diggs showed no regret for the pregame scuffle. “I don’t give a f— if I’m by myself or with a million. I’m never the bigger person. I ain’t letting s— go,” Diggs told reporters. “They picked it up or whatever. But I ain’t with the football tough guy s—.”
However, head coach DeMeco Ryans had a different perspective. Ryans, known for his calm and disciplined approach, expressed his disappointment with Diggs’ behavior. “We can’t be about chirping,” Ryans said after the game. “Things like that happen. Those guys have a history. They’ve been going at it before. We don’t want to encourage that. We just want to go play ball the right way and make sure it’s settled on the field.”
Ryans’ comments hinted at growing frustration with the direction of the offense and the lack of focus on execution. The pregame altercation was just one example of a team that seemed more focused on off-field antics than on-field results.
Stroud, too, appeared visibly frustrated throughout the game. The rookie quarterback, who has had a solid start to his career, struggled to connect with his receivers and was clearly rattled by Green Bay’s defense. While the Texans remain in a strong position with a 5-2 record, the lack of cohesion and chemistry on offense is becoming a concern.
The expectations for Diggs to be a game-changer have not materialized, and Stroud’s development has been hindered by inconsistent play-calling and execution.
With plenty of football left in the season, the Texans still have time to right the ship. But if Diggs and Stroud can’t get on the same page, and if off-field distractions continue to spill over into games, Houston’s promising season could unravel.
For now, Ryans and the coaching staff will need to address the issues that are preventing the offense from reaching its full potential and ensure that the focus stays on playing football, not engaging in unnecessary altercations.