Stroud named Texans’ starter following preseason finale

HOUSTON — Following the Houston Texans‘ 17-13 win of their preseason finale towards the New Orleans Saints, coach DeMeco Ryans introduced quarterback C.J. Stroud would be the Texans’ Week 1 starter towards the Baltimore Ravens.

“It was undoubtedly a blessing, one thing that I believe I labored for and undoubtedly earned,” Stroud mentioned. “On the identical time, nothing else actually adjustments. Nonetheless going to work like the way in which I am working however much more now. I am blessed sufficient to have the ability to be a starter, so younger on this league, which is not the best factor to do. However I do know my coaches have belief and religion in me, so I am going to go on the market and do my finest.”

The Texans had been the final crew within the NFL to call their starter, however Ryans’ reasoning to crown Stroud the starter stemmed from what he is seen since Stroud was drafted, in addition to his need to enhance.

“It has been over the course of your entire means of OTAs, coaching camp preseason video games, simply seeing the entire product and understanding CJ’s need to proceed to higher,” Ryans mentioned after the win.

The No. 2 choose began every preseason recreation and went 11-of-18 for 89 yards with one landing and one interception in eight collection.

Stroud joins the opposite two rookie quarterbacks chosen within the prime 5 on this 12 months’s draft who’re additionally beginning Week 1 in Carolina Panthers‘ Bryce Young and Indianapolis Colts‘ Anthony Richardson.

Capturing the beginning function for Stroud was the anticipated final result as, in most cases, quarterbacks drafted within the prime 5 generally begin Week 1 of their rookie season. For the reason that 2011 NFL collective bargaining settlement, 11 of the 17 quarterbacks chosen within the prime 5 began Week 1.

Stroud entered coaching camp in a quarterback competitors towards Davis Mills as each cut up reps with the beginning offense to start coaching camp.

However after every week of apply, Stroud separated himself, and Ryans gave the rookie quarterback all of the first-team reps.

The Texans ranked thirty first in QBR (33.3) up to now two seasons and went 7-26-1. The struggles on the sphere led them to pick out Stroud, hoping he may turn into the franchise quarterback they have been looking for since buying and selling former quarterback Deshaun Watson.

Stroud will debut towards a Ravens crew that includes the 2019 MVP in quarterback Lamar Jackson and a protection that completed third in scoring protection (18.5 per recreation) in 2022.

Since 2011, rookie quarterbacks drafted within the prime 5 and began Week 1 are 4-6-1 with a 59% completion proportion, 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.