Stroud struggles in short stint for Texans
C.J. Stroud had a short and at times shaky NFL debut, Davis Mills threw a sixyard touchdown pass to rookie Tank Dell and the Texans beat the Patriots 20-9 in the teams’ preseason opener Thursday night in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Stroud, drafted second overall out of Ohio State, played the first two series and went 2-for-4 for 13 yards with an interception. He rushed twice for six yards and was sacked once.
Mills — who started 15 games last season — took over for Stroud and finished 9 of 12 for 99 yards while playing the balance of the opening half. His touchdown pass capped a seven-play, 62-yard drive that ended with Dell juggling and pulling in the score from his back.
Dalton Keene added a one-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Case Keenum had a five-yard TD pass to Alex Bachman in the fourth. Dell ended his night with five catches for 65 yards.
The Patriots gave most of their projected starters the night off, including quarterback Mac Jones.
Rookie Richardson to start for Colts
The Colts promised to wait patiently for rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson to develop into a starter. Apparently, he’s a quick learner. First-year coach Shane Steichen announced the No. 4 overall draft pick will start Saturday’s preseason opener at Buffalo after working mostly with Indy’s starters this week.
Richardson and veteran Gardner Minshew have been battling for the No. 1 spot since offseason work began. Steichen has not said when, or if, he’ll announce a winner before Indy’s regular-season opener Sept. 10 against Jacksonville.
Still, Steichen intends to use each of Indy’s top two quarterbacks — Richardson and Minshew — about a quarter. Sam Ehlinger, who made three starts last season, his second in the league, will get whatever is left. Steichen also knows Minshew well since they worked together in Philadelphia each of the previous two seasons, so giving Richardson more game-day snaps also makes sense.
Breeland in legal hot water
Former NFL cornerback Bashaud Breeland, who had an interception in the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl 54 win over the San Francisco 49ers, is facing multiple charges after being found in possession of a stolen vehicle, firearms and illegal drugs in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The 31-year-old Breeland is facing charges that include possession of a stolen motor vehicle, altering serial numbers, altering a title, possession of a Schedule I controlled substance, possession of marijuana, and possession of a stolen firearm.
Breeland, who played eight seasons in the NFL, was booked into Mecklenburg County Jail early Tuesday, according to jail records. He’s since been released on $30,000 bond.