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DJ Bien-Aime, ESPN
HOUSTON — After the Houston Texans‘ 31-20 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, the temper within the Texans’ locker room was bittersweet.
The Texans had simply fallen to 0-2, however their rookie quarterback, C.J. Stroud, had simply come off a historic day.
Stroud completed with 384 yards passing (going 30-of-47), the primary two landing passes of his profession and no interceptions — all coming behind a Texans’ offensive line that was lacking 4 starters.
“Man, he is particular,” proper guard Shaq Mason advised ESPN.
Stroud’s 384 yards have been second-most by a participant age 21 or youthful for the reason that merger (1970), trailing solely Matthew Stafford (422 yards) in 2009, in accordance with ESPN Stats & Info, and it was the very best mark of any participant in Week 2. Stroud additionally had the second-most passing yards by a Texans rookie in franchise historical past, behind solely Deshaun Watson (402 yards) in 2017.
“There’s positives from C.J.’s recreation,” Mason stated. “He has what it takes to take that leap and be an excellent QB on this league.”
Most of Stroud’s injury got here within the fourth quarter. Houston scored the one factors of the quarter, reducing the deficit from 31-10 behind Stroud’s 190 passing yards and his second landing throw on the day.
“C.J. is a competitor, and he exhibits that,” coach DeMeco Ryans stated. “He continues to struggle it doesn’t matter what odds are stacked in opposition to him. Irrespective of who’s in entrance of him, it does not matter, and now we want all people round him to proceed to have that successful mindset and go play successful soccer.”
Stroud was pressured on 47% of his dropbacks and sacked six instances, however he was pleased with how the Texans by no means recreation up.
“I really feel like I did OK,” Stroud stated. “After all, you all the time wish to do higher. Obtained to not take sacks within the crimson zone and bought to attain within the crimson zone. That positively was the principle purpose why we did not put any factors on the board. We have been driving the ball fairly nicely, simply bought to complete these drives.
“I really feel like, total, there’s gentle on the finish of the tunnel. I believe there’s hope. I believe we confirmed that right now that we will struggle, and we’re not simply going to show round and lay down simply because the rating flips early. We will hold preventing ’til the top.”
Each of Stroud’s landing passes got here when he did not face stress, and he went 22-of-28 for 287 yards with 10.3 yards per try when not pressured, in accordance with Subsequent Gen Stats.
Stroud wasn’t the one one with a profession day, nevertheless.
Extensive receiver Nico Collins went over 100 yards for the primary time in his three-year profession, ending with seven catches for 146 yards and a landing, and rookie extensive receiver Tank Dell, a third-round choose, caught his first landing and completed with 72 yards.
“We needed to make some strikes on offense [in the second half], and we’re simply making an attempt to execute and make performs,” Collins stated. “C.J. was going via his reads and was dicing them up.”
The Texans additionally struggled to get the run recreation going, as they rushed for less than 52 yards on 26 carries, which put many of the onus on Stroud and the cross recreation.
“He confirmed poise, he is getting higher week by week, and we are able to see it on the sector,” operating again Dameon Pierce Pierce stated. “We simply bought to do a greater job of conserving him protected. He was the No. 2 choose within the draft for a purpose. He is an excellent participant, and he has an excellent arm.”
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