Stroud completed two of four passes for 41 yards and a touchdown in Friday's 20-12 preseason win over the Steelers. Stroud played two drives, capping his outing in style with a 34-yard touchdown pass to Tank Dell. With Dell back from last year's season-ending leg injury and Nico Collins returning after a breakout 2023 season alongside offseason acquisition Stefon Diggs, Stroud will have one of the league's most talented wide receiver rooms at his disposal for his sophomore season. Stroud already looks like he's in midseason form, but he may get more opportunities to work on his timing with Houston's receivers in the Texans' next preseason game against the Giants a week from Saturday.
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Status
ACTIVELatest C.J. Stroud news
Team
Houston Texans
Birthdate
10/3/2001 (22)
Status
Active
HT/WT
6'3", 218 lbs
Draft Info
2023: Rd 1; Pk (HOU)
Birthplace
Rancho Cucamonga, CA, USA
Position
QB
College
Ohio State
Experience
2 seasons
Career History
Houston Texans
2023-Present
(2 seasons)
Stroud completed two of four passes for 41 yards and a touchdown in Friday's 20-12 preseason win over the Steelers. Stroud played two drives, capping his outing in style with a 34-yard touchdown pass to Tank Dell. With Dell back from last year's season-ending leg injury and Nico Collins returning after a breakout 2023 season alongside offseason acquisition Stefon Diggs, Stroud will have one of the league's most talented wide receiver rooms at his disposal for his sophomore season. Stroud already looks like he's in midseason form, but he may get more opportunities to work on his timing with Houston's receivers in the Texans' next preseason game against the Giants a week from Saturday.
Coach DeMeco Ryans suggested Monday that Stroud and other starters will play in Friday's preseason game against the Steelers, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports. Ryans didn't mention Stroud by name but said Houston's starters will get playing time. While there may be some exceptions, Stroud likely will handle at least a drive or two, perhaps giving fans a chance to see him connect with WR Stefon Diggs for the first time in a game environment.
Stroud is not in line to play in Thursday's Hall of Fame Game against the Bears, Cole Thompson of the USA Today reports. With the Texans not planning to play key starters in their preseason opener, Stroud's next chance to see exhibition action will be Aug. 9 against the Steelers. While Thursday's starter hasn't been specified, the report notes that Davis Mills has been getting almost all the reps with Houston's second-team offense.
Stroud was a full participant in practice Monday after having Sunday off, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 Houston reports. Stroud had his foot stepped on by Folorunso Fatukasi during Saturday's practice and, after limping around for a bit, was able to finish out the session at normal speed. Sunday's day off can be viewed as a precaution. It's unlikely that Stroud will play in Thursday's Hall of Fame Game against the Bears, as head coach DeMeco Ryans plans not to play several key starters.
Stroud was limping during Saturday's practice after having his foot stepped on by defensive tackle Folorunso Fatukasi, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 Houston reports. Stroud limped slightly for a few plays following the incident with the 6-foot-4, 318-pound lineman. However, Stroud never left the field and eventually regained full mobility. Houston head coach DeMeco Ryans said there was "no concern" at all about the quarterback following practice.
One drive after having what would have been a 62-yard connection to Tank Dell called back on a penalty, Stroud found Dell for a seven-yard touchdown to get the Texans on the board in the second quarter. Stroud ran one in himself from one yard out in the third quarter, then threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Nico Collins in the fourth. Houston got the ball back after Collins' touchdown and Stroud led an 11-play, 50-yard drive that culminated with a missed 58-yard field goal from Matt Ammendola. The loss snapped Houston's three-game winning streak and dropped the Texans' record to 6-5. Stroud has exceeded 300 passing yards in four consecutive games and will take a 19:5 TD:INT into a Week 13 home game against the Broncos, which could prove pivotal in the AFC playoff race.
Stroud and the Texans were in the relatively unfamiliar position of trailing after one quarter, but the standout rookie signal-caller helped erase that deficit with an impressive 40-yard scoring dart to Tank Dell in the second quarter, which was preceded by a 20-yard scoring toss to Dalton Schultz in the opening period. However, Stroud, who appeared to be on pace for an even bigger day at halftime, slowed down some in the second half partly due to a pair of interceptions, although neither resulted in any Cardinals points. The second overall pick has now eclipsed the 300-yard mark in three consecutive games and next gets a crack at a Jaguars defense that's given up plenty of passing yards in a Week 12 divisional clash.
Stroud went into enemy territory and helped the Texans continue to defy expectations with the fourth 300-yard effort of his nascent career. The rookie did throw multiple interceptions for the first time and was separated from the ball twice, but he impressively adapted to not having top receiver Nico Collins (calf) by pivoting to Noah Brown (7-172-0), Dalton Schultz (4-71-0) and Tank Dell (6-56-1). The second overall pick also got plenty of help from a career-best 150-yard rushing day from Devin Singletary, and Stroud capped off another stellar afternoon by coolly leading Houston on a six-play, 55-yard march that culminated in a game-winning 38-yard field goal by Matt Ammendola. Stroud next faces off with Kyler Murray and the Cardinals in what could be another high-scoring contest at home Week 11.
Stroud's yardage tally was a new NFL rookie single-game record, and the second overall pick fittingly accomplished the feat on an improbable six-play, 75-yard game-winning drive in the final 45 seconds of the contest. Stroud hit Tank Dell for a 15-yard game-winning touchdown pass with six seconds remaining to cap off the march, a play preceded by a perfect 26-yard sideline throw to the rookie wideout. As his final numbers indicate, Stroud eviscerated the Buccaneers pass defense throughout the afternoon, and he connected with Nico Collins (14 yards), Noah Brown (75 yards), Dell (29 yards) and Dalton Schultz (nine yards) for his other four scoring tosses. Stroud's record-setting afternoon also marked his fifth multi-touchdown game of what is turning into a ROY-worthy campaign, and he'll next set his sights on an intriguing Week 10 road matchup versus the Bengals.