Powerful Moment: Broncos Player Prays for Texans QB After Hard Hit

Published: November 4, 2025

By Mallory Mattingly

After Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud exited Sunday’s game early following a hard hit to the head, Denver Broncos player Talanoa Hufanga immediately knelt down, extended his arm and began praying for his opponent.

A video shared from Christhlete on Instagram captured the powerful moment.

“Beautiful gesture by this Broncos player who immediately knelt to pray for C.J. Stroud after he went down from a hit. Please join us in praying for C.J Stroud,” the caption of the video reads.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQkKNT4kkca/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

According to ESPN, “Stroud dropped back on a third-and-8 with 13:51 remaining in the first half and scanned the field before scrambling. He slid short of the first-down mark, but Broncos cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine lunged into Stroud’s chest, which caused the quarterback’s head to hit the ground.”

In the second half, the Texans struggled to get going. However, head coach DeMeco Ryans didn’t blame Stroud’s injury for the 18-15 loss the they took against the Broncos.

“It’s easy to stand up here and make excuses,” Ryans told the media. “[Injuries] happen all across the league all the time. You don’t make excuses about who’s in the game or who’s not in the game. We still had an opportunity there to close the game out and win it.”

“It’s your time to step up. We need the next guy to come in and just be consistent. Just execute,” tight end Dylan Schultz added

This is Stroud’s second concussion of his career; the first was against the New York Jets in 2023. There is no timetable as to when Stroud will be able to return, but one thing is certain: he plans to keep his faith in God strong.

Stroud is still learning how to navigate life as a star NFL quarterback, and he does this by setting boundaries and keeping God first.

“When you’re young in the NFL, trying to have fun being around, you enjoy a lot of the different things that it comes with,” the quarterback told ESPN. “And I think I’ve just grown as a person. … So I just try my best to learn as a man of God, first and foremost, and then, just as an NFL quarterback, just the things to do and not to do.”

“I’ve just evolved and am trying to keep my faith and my relationship with God at the forefront of my life,” Stroud emphasized. “And I can’t be doing a bunch of different things and doing that. It’s very hypocritical.”

Let’s join with Hufanga and keep Stroud in our prayers.

Questions or comments? Please write to us here.