HOUSTON — The fans were in attendance on Friday to watch the Houston Texans prepare for their first preseason game versus the New England Patriots Aug. 10 at Gillette Stadium. Most in attendance got exactly what they came for, and that is an excellent performance from rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud who has stacked back-to-back training camp days that are showing his progression. He took all the first-team reps, which is something he has not done in training camp.
“You know, Stroud is doing a great job, and he’s improving just like we asked all of our guys,” said Texans coach DeMeco Ryans. “When it comes to development and what do you expect from training camp, I expect everybody to be better than they were the day before.”
Stroud displayed what his head coach was thinking on Friday when he found wide receiver Nico Collins streaking down the sidelines for a 40-yard touchdown pass over cornerback Shaquill Griffin. It was the second consecutive day that the tandem connected.
Texans WR Nico Collins says that rookie QB C.J. Stroud is putting the ball where only he can get it and that excites him for the upcoming season. #Texans #Sarge @TheTexansWire pic.twitter.com/u7hg8y9LeD
— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) August 4, 2023
On Thursday, Stroud found Collins in the back of the end zone for his first touchdown of training camp. It was an impressive throw and catch by the rookie quarterback, especially considering that it came over cornerback Derek Stingley.
“He, is throwing it up where I can get it,” Collins said about Stroud utilizing his catch radius. “But that’s why we’re here practicing every day, just to get it and get that touch right so on Sundays, we can shine, for sure. And I can’t wait for the season.”
The only miscue Stroud had on Friday was an interception he threw to linebacker Denzel Perryman who read Stroud’s eyes the entire time as he continued to get depth in zone coverage. The window for Stroud to get the ball to tight end Mason Schrek was small, and he took the chance on completing the pass but came up short. After the play, he immediately took the blame for the turnover.
“That play, I think it was a zone and I was just doing my job,” Perryman said about his interception on Stroud. “Staying in my little vicinity, my area, reading the quarterback’s eyes, saw his hand come off the ball, and it was coming right towards me. The only thing I was thinking was, ‘Catch it.’”
As training camp progresses, Stroud has learned to take what defense gives him and not try to make the spectacular play. Over the last two days, he has scrambled out of the pocket when the receivers are covered. He is also getting the ball out of his hands and making quicker decisions, which impressed offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik.
“Having answers and preparation is a big part of just being able to handle the environment, and then on top of that, being able to continue to trust his feet, go through his progressions, which he’s done a really good job of as we get through camp,” Slowik responded when asked about Stroud. “That’s what training camp is about. Training camp is about good-on-good, not always having a perfect play, and seeing if we can make it work because that winds up paying off in the season.”