Sunday saw Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud complete his first NFL touchdown pass in what was another light preseason workload for the No. 2 pick.
The former Ohio State star hit on 2-of-4 attempts for 16 yards and the score before being pulled. And after coach DeMeco Ryans appeared to have seen enough to name him the team’s Week 1 starter, Stroud shouted out his alma mater.
“Everything that I learned from Ohio State is definitely paying off,” he told the media. “That’s why I went to Ohio State. One of the reasons why I went. And I’m blessed enough now to live out what I learned from Coach [Ryan] Day and everybody in Columbus.”
“Everything I learned at Ohio State is paying off, that is why I went to Ohio State”
CJ Stroud just threw his first Texans TD, and in two weeks will make his true NFL debut.
He credits so much of his preparedness in the league to the Buckeyes for how they run their program: pic.twitter.com/YBj5v0ADGb
— Adam King (@AdamKing10TV) August 28, 2023
Like most rookies, Stroud has had his share of growing pains in the preseason. But the two-time Heisman Trophy finalist is clearly the most talented quarterback on Houston’s roster.
Speaking on the move, Ryans said he’s been happy with the work Stroud’s put in thus far:
It’s been over the course of the entire process of OTAs, training camp, preseason games, seeing the complete product and knowing C.J.’s desire to continue to get better. We know we’re not where we need to be as a team overall. We all have to continue to get better, and it’s just having the mindset to do that and C.J., along with all our other guys, know we have to get better in that regard.
He’ll make his debut against the Ravens Sept. 10 in Baltimore.