Texans Name CJ Stroud Starter for Week 1: Houston’s freshman head coach DeMeco Ryans chooses rookie second overall pick after former Ohio State star won preseason TD vs. Saints has thrown out
- During eight preseason series, Stroud completed 11 of 18 passes for 89 yards
- The ex-Buckeyes star was chosen in April behind the Panthers’ Bryce Young
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CJ Stroud is the starting quarterback for the Houston Texans.
The 2023 NFL Draft No. 2 was awarded the job by first-year head coach DeMeco Ryans on Sunday night after an impressive — if brief — performance in the preseason Finals against the Saints in New Orleans.
“It’s the course of the whole process of OTAs, preseason training camp games, seeing the full product and knowing CJ’s desire to keep improving,” Ryans said after the 17-13 win.
Stroud joins fellow first-graders such as Bryce Young of the Carolina Panthers and Anthony Richardson of the Indianapolis Colts as the lone starting quarterback going into Week 1.
During eight preseason series, Stroud completed 11 of 18 passes for 89 yards, a touchdown, and one interception.
CJ Stroud — the second overall pick in the NFL Draft — starts Week 1 at QB for Houston
The No. 2 pick of the 2023 NFL Draft was assigned the job by head coach DeMeco Ryans
That touchdown came in the first half on Sunday as the former Ohio State star pulled off a flawless play-action fake before finding Nico Collins in the end zone for a three-yard score.
Stroud signed a four-year, $36 million deal with the Texans last month before entering a training camp battle with Davis Mills for the Houston starting job.
Mills was 6 of 11 for 53 yards on Sunday.
Houston has struggled to find a quarterback since embattled Deshaun Watson was benched in 2021 over sexual misconduct allegations. He was traded to Cleveland before the 2022 season.
During that time, the Texans ranked 31st in the NFL in QBR, according to ESPN, while posting a record of 7-26-1.
Stroud will make his Week 1 debut against the Ravens in Baltimore on September 10.