Ed Ingram has given C. J. Stroud a strong public vote of confidence, saying he believes the quarterback will lead the Houston Texans to something they have never done before. With training camp set to begin later this month, the comments are a reminder that the support inside the building remains strong even as Stroud heads into a pivotal 2026 season.
Stroud has heard criticism this summer after an up-and-down third season ended with four interceptions in a divisional round loss against the New England Patriots. But Ingram, who arrived in Houston in 2025 via a trade from the Minnesota Vikings, made it clear he is not buying into the noise around the Texans' No. 7.
Ingram's backing for Stroud
Speaking to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, Ingram said: “I want people to put some respect on my boy No. 7, C.J. Stroud.” He added: “Think about it: ever since he's been here, we've been to the playoffs every year.”
That is the kind of support a young quarterback wants to hear from a newer face on the offensive line. Ingram was not offering a guarded defense or a polite endorsement. He was pushing back directly, and he was doing it in strong terms.
“This dude is a problem,” Ingram said. “He's definitely a problem.”
Why the criticism has not changed the mood inside Houston
The interesting part is not that Stroud has faced criticism. It is that, by all accounts, the Texans around him have not allowed that outside chatter to define him. Ingram said: “I've been talking to him. He doesn't let the comments get to him.”
He also put the situation in perspective, saying: “At the end of the day, we're playing a child's game and making grown-man money.” That is a straightforward way of framing the pressure on a quarterback who has already become central to the Texans' identity.
Ingram's belief goes beyond simple loyalty. “At the end of the day, I have so much faith in the kid, bro,” he said. “He's a frigging baller.”
For the Texans, that matters. Stroud is not just being judged on one poor stretch or one difficult loss. He is being asked to carry the next step of the project in Houston, and that makes the next few months significant.
A pivotal 2026 season ahead
That is why Ingram's final line landed with so much force. “I know this year he's going to lead this team to doing something we've never done before,” he said. “I have so much respect for him. Shoutout to C.J. Stroud.”
It is an ambitious message, but it fits the moment. Stroud enters 2026 with internal belief behind him, external scrutiny still hanging around, and training camp about to offer the first proper chance to reset the conversation.
The Texans will not be judged on words, of course. They will be judged on how Stroud responds on the field. But Ingram's comments show that inside the building, the faith in the quarterback remains intact.
