C.J. Stroud, quarterback for the Houston Texans, leaned on his Christian faith during a difficult moment when his teammate and best friend, Tank Dell, suffered a serious knee injury after scoring a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs. Stroud, who often celebrates his faith in God and Jesus Christ during victories, turned to prayer in this moment of pain and uncertainty.

“All you can do is really pray,” Stroud said. “At the end of the day, God still gets the glory. No matter what happens to me, I know that I am up here by the grace of Jesus, the grace of who He is on my life, in Tank’s life.” Stroud added that his teammates Joe Mixon and Dalton Schultz supported him emotionally as he struggled to process what had happened: “I was going through it, and I appreciate them just being there for me.”

Stroud prayed fervently for his friend during the game, saying, “I just prayed for peace over Tank’s head, his mental, his physical. We serve a miraculous God. I believe in healing, and I pray that the Lord can heal him.” Despite the injury, Stroud expressed confidence in God’s purpose, stating, “This is not the end for Tank, it’s just the beginning. God will never leave us or forsake us, or forsake Tank.”

He also addressed critics who might doubt or mock his faith, saying, “There are people in the world that might not believe that or might not understand, but I pray that one day they can. I pray that over Tank right now in the name of Jesus. I’m tore up but at the same time, I have to be strong for him.”

Stroud emphasized that while pain and suffering are real, they are not authored by God. “God didn’t necessarily do this. It’s football. At the same time, in the Word it says that God will never leave us or forsake us. God is love,” he explained, highlighting his belief that God can turn even the worst situations into opportunities for good.

Stroud’s faith was echoed by Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who also prayed for Dell. Stroud said of Mahomes, “It shows his heart and the man of God he is. Patrick had a lot of nice things to say, that he was going to be praying for Tank. I’m appreciative of that. I know that God always listens to our prayers.”

For Stroud, the experience reaffirmed his faith and commitment to his team, his best friend, and his belief in a God who provides peace and hope even in the midst of trials.