C.J. Stroud appeared ahead of his years when he put together a strong rookie campaign last season and guided the Houston Texans to a playoff victory.

However, things haven’t come easy for Stroud of late and the Texans are looking for the star quarterback to begin a turnaround when they visit the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night.

As Houston (6-4) has dropped three of its past four games, Stroud has completed just 53.7 percent of his passes. He has been sacked 18 times during that span.

Stroud also threw two interceptions last week in a 26-23 home loss to the Detroit Lions. The Texans blew a 16-point halftime lead in that contest.

“I try to not only make plays but take care of the football and do the right things that win the game,” Stroud said Thursday. “Sometimes it goes our way, and sometimes it (doesn’t).”

Despite their slump, the Texans still lead the AFC South by two games over the Indianapolis Colts.

Still, getting Stroud back in form is a huge priority. During the tough times, Stroud passed for a career-worst 86 yards in a setback against the Green Bay Packers on Oct. 20, was sacked eight times and completed just 36.7 percent of his passes (11 of 30) during a loss to the New York Jets on Oct. 31.

Stroud’s six interceptions are more than he tossed (five) in 15 starts as a rookie.

However, Houston coach DeMeco Ryans emphasized that the issues aren’t limited to his quarterback.

“Nobody can shoulder all of the responsibility,” Ryans said. “For C.J., yeah, it’s 10 other guys around him. But just like those 10 other guys and C.J., all the defensive players, special teams, everybody has a job to do and everybody is expected to do that job to the best of their ability. And if everybody executes and everyone plays the proper way and does their job the right way, then we’ll be fine.”

Dallas (3-6) has dropped four consecutive games and has bigger problems at quarterback with Dak Prescott (hamstring) done for the season.

Cooper Rush started last weekend in a 34-6 home loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, and the results were ugly.

Rush completed 13 of 23 passes for just 45 yards with a long gain of 10 yards. Trey Lance finished up and was 4 of 6 for 21 yards and one interception.

Big-play receiver CeeDee Lamb had just 21 yards on six receptions.

“The work is going to get done,” Lamb said. “And, with me, I take full responsibility in getting in sync with (Rush).

“We’re going to ride this thing out through the rest of the season, so I have the most confidence in him. I don’t care what happened last week, and last week is last week.”

Dallas coach Mike McCarthy made it clear that the team’s 3.9-yard average per reception was unacceptable.

“How can you manufacture the ball getting down the field or getting it into green grass, we had a number of crossing routes that we felt good about and it just didn’t happen,” McCarthy said. “And that’s the way the game goes. … Ball didn’t go down the field enough, that’s for sure.”

Rush is dealing with a neck injury but was a full practice participant on Thursday.

Cowboys star guard Zack Martin (shoulder) sat out practice, though he continues to play through the ailment. Cornerbacks DaRon Bland (foot), Caelen Carson (shoulder/illness) and Jourdan Lewis (neck) missed the Thursday session, as did tight end Jake Ferguson (illness), fullback Hunter Luepke (calf) and linebacker Nick Vigil (foot).

Houston star defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (ankle) sat out practice Thursday. He missed the loss to the Lions.

Also sitting out for the Texans with injuries were cornerbacks Kamari Lassiter (concussion) and Derek Stingley Jr. (hip) and defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi (foot).

The Cowboys have won four of their six meetings with the Texans, including a 27-23 home win in the most recent matchup on Dec. 11, 2022.

–Field Level Media