Monday can’t come soon enough for Emeka Egbuka. The Buccaneers WR is fired up about facing CJ Stroud and the Texans. After lighting up the field in his NFL debut with two touchdowns on four receptions in the game against the Falcons, Egbuka has his eyes set on the next target. Interestingly, Egbuka and Stroud attended Ohio State, where they played together for two seasons. That bond gave Egbuka a front-row seat to Stroud’s talent.

He hasn’t spoken to Stroud this week, but he joked that he’ll do so after securing the win. “He’s one of the more talented people I’ve ever played with,” Egbuka added, blending respect with a bit of rivalry. Moreover, Egbuka didn’t hold back when talking about their shared history. “I’ve had, you know, over 1200 yards with him as quarterback,” Egbuka said proudly. So, he knows what Stroud can do. But he also expressed confidence in the Bucs’ defense, at the same time alerting them, stating, “And, you know, he’s the type of guy that you can’t let him get going once he’s feeling it, once he’s feeling high, he’s going to be super accurate. So I have ultimate trust in our defense that they know what they’re up against.”

On the flip side, CJ Stroud’s magic arm struggled in the Texans’ opening game of 2025. He managed just 188 yards on 27 pass attempts, with no touchdowns and one interception. The Rams’ defense didn’t give him any breathing room, sacking him three times and limiting his top target, WR Nico Collins, to a mere three catches for 25 yards on five targets.

Stroud will look to rebound against his former teammate in the upcoming matchup. However, injury concerns surrounding the quarterback are complicating matters for Houston, adding uncertainty to the Texans’ game plan and preparation.

CJ Stroud and the Texans will face the Bucs with three starters out

CJ Stroud and the Houston Texans are heading into a tough Monday night. Already, three big starters are out. The team announced that center Jake Andrews and wide receivers Christian Kirk and WR Braxton Berrios won’t suit up for the home opener against the Buccaneers.

Specifically, Andrews won’t play because of an ankle injury he suffered during Houston’s season-opening loss to the Rams. Meanwhile, Kirk and Berrios continue to battle hamstring injuries. It’s the second straight game they’ll be sidelined. The Texans’ offense is already struggling, and these absences don’t make it any easier.

On the bright side, head coach DeMeco Ryans mentioned Andrews is “day-to-day” with a rolled ankle. Yet, Andrews didn’t practice at all this week. As a result, the Texans will rely on Jarrett Patterson to take over at center. Patterson got some solid reps last season and didn’t allow a pressure or sack in his 11 pass-blocking snaps during the opener, according to Pro Football Focus. That performance gives some hope for stability up front.

Meanwhile, guard Ed Ingram looks ready to step in. He missed the first game with an abdominal injury but was a full participant in Friday and Saturday practices. With Ingram back, the Texans aim to strengthen their line and help Stroud face the Buccaneers’ defense. So let’s see how they’ll line up when the lights turn on.