Following the Houston Texans’ 17-13 preseason victory against the New Orleans Saints, coach DeMeco Ryans declared quarterback C.J. Stroud would start against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1.
“It was definitely a blessing, something that I think I worked for and earned,” Stroud said. “At the same time, nothing else seems to be changing. I’ll continue to work in the same manner as before, but with more intensity. I’m fortunate to be able to start at such a young age in this league, which isn’t often easy. But I know my coaches believe in me, so I’ll go out there and give it my all.”
The Texans were the final club in the NFL to select a starter, but Ryan’s decision was based on what he’s seen since Stroud was picked, as well as his desire to develop.
“It’s been throughout the entire process of OTAs, training camp preseason games, just seeing the complete product and knowing CJ’s desire to continue to improve,” Ryans said after the victory.
In eight preseason series, the No. 2 selection went 11-of-18 for 89 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
Stroud joins the Carolina Panthers’ Bryce Young and the Indianapolis Colts’ Anthony Richardson as rookie quarterbacks taken in the top five of this year’s drafting.
Stroud capturing the starting spot seemed a foregone conclusion, since quarterbacks picked in the top five often start Week 1 of their rookie season. Since the 2011 NFL collective bargaining agreement, 11 of the top five quarterbacks have started in Week 1.
Stroud began training camp in a quarterback duel with Davis Mills, with both splitting repetitions with the starting offence.
After a week of practise, though, Stroud isolated himself, and Ryans handed the rookie quarterback all of the first-team repetitions.
In the previous two seasons, the Texans were 7-26-1 and placed 31st in QBR (33.3). They chose Stroud because of his troubles on the field, thinking he can become the franchise quarterback they’ve been looking for since trading former quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Stroud will make his debut against a Ravens club led by 2019 MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson and a defence that finished third in scoring defence (18.5 points allowed per game) in 2022.
Rookie quarterbacks picked in the top five and starting in Week 1 have gone 4-6-1 with a 59% completion percentage, 22 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions since 2011.
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