Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud said Wednesday he wasn’t trying to shake hands with Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams during their postgame handshake Sunday night, an interaction that drew attention on social media.
Stroud was on the microphone during the Texans’ 19-13 win over the Bears on “Sunday Night Football.” After the game, Stroud hugged Williams and offered advice to the No. 1 candidate.
“Good play there,” Williams told the rookie, and “stop taking those hits,” after Williams was hit seven times and took 11 quarterback hits while finishing the game with 23-of-37 passes for 174 yards with two interceptions.
Williams started to walk away, but Stroud brought Williams back into the conversation and said, “Come here. Learn from those mistakes. Everything you have, bro, is already inside you. You’re going to be a great player in this tournament.”
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Stroud said he was trying to help Williams during their interaction and was not trying to belittle him.
“I wasn’t trying to make him act like a little brother or anything like that. He knows that too. I respect him a lot,” Stroud said. “I had a lot of guys come up to me after games last year, and it meant a lot to me that those guys thought of giving me advice.
“So, I just try to give back what the game gives me. So, I wish him the best. I want him to do great in this tournament. I think he will.”
Social media users focused on Williams’ body language, noting that he appeared to reject Stroud’s advice.
Williams did not say much about their interaction during his post-match press conference, saying: “We shook hands at the end of the game. That’s it.”
Stroud did not view Williams’ response negatively and “wants him to do very well.”
“I don’t think he was trying to be in any way [toward me]”He was upset about their loss. I totally understand that. So I have a lot of respect for that guy,” Stroud said.
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