The Houston Texans filled an unexpected QB3 opening just before their Week 1 opener against the Buffalo Bills. Mark Gronowski was added to the practice squad, after Graham Mertz suffered a season-ending ACL injury in the preseason opener, leaving the Texans without a true third quarterback after roster cuts.
Gronowski gives the Texans an emergency option behind C.J. Stroud and Davis Mills. He is an undrafted rookie who spent the offseason with the Dolphins before joining Houston. He finished his college career at Iowa after playing four seasons at South Dakota State. Gronowski has 58 career wins, making him one of the winningest quarterbacks in NCAA history.
Gronowski can be elevated for a game if Houston needs an emergency quarterback after losing one of its top two passers. Stroud enters Year 4 without a long-term extension. Houston picked up his fifth-year option, keeping him under contract through 2027, and general manager Nick Caserio said talks will not continue into the season if no deal is reached before the September 13 opener.
The timing creates an interesting backdrop. Houston has already made a massive commitment to Will Anderson Jr., giving him a three-year, $150 million extension this offseason.
Texans’ Defense can Carry Them, but Stroud has to Make the Offense Work
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The Texans do not need Stroud to throw for 5,000 yards; they need him to stop the offense from wasting what the defense gives them. Houston’s 2025 defense led the NFL in total yards allowed and scoring defense, allowing 277.24 yards per game and about 17.4 points per game.
Stroud’s 2025 numbers have dropped compared to his spectacular rookie campaign and his playoff performance is the bigger concern. Against New England, he threw four interceptions, all in the first half, in Houston’s season-ending divisional round loss.
Houston finished 2025 around the middle of the league offensively, averaging roughly 327 yards and 23.8 points per game under first-year offensive coordinator Nick Caley. That is not disastrous but it is also not the profile of an offense you want attached to a Super Bowl contender.
Stroud cannot become Patrick Mahomes overnight, but he needs to be more consistent, protect the football and deliver when the games get tight. The contract makes every good and bad stretch more interesting. Houston has already set a deadline for negotiations before Week 1; after that, the focus shifts entirely to what Stroud does on the field.
