C.J. Stroud Receives Push Back After Trash Talking AFC South Rival

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud gave the Indianapolis Colts a little bit of bulletin board material during his recent appearance on the "Million Dollaz Worth of Game" podcast.

Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin appeared to do his best to avoid giving any motivating words right back to his division rival. But during his latest media appearance, Franklin did respond to Stoud's trash talk.

"Winners get to talk. Winners get to go on their runs," Franklin said to host Kay Adams on "Up & Adams" on Monday. "He won, the Texans won, so everything that gets to come with that, comes with that.

"When you win a game, you get to say what you want."

The Texans defeated the Colts, 23-19, in Week 18 to win the AFC South. The loss essentially eliminated the Colts from the AFC playoff picture.

Stroud was terrific in the Texans win, going 20-of-26 for 264 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Franklin is apparently accepting Stoud's trash talking because of his performance and victory in Week 18. But interestingly, the show's host didn't necessarily accept it.

Adams mentioned that the Colts and Texans split their 2023 season series with the road team winning both matchups. The Colts knocked off the Texans, 31-20, in Week 2.

The AFC rivals will meet for the first time in 2024 during the season opener on September 8.