Stroud struggles, but it’s too early to judge
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The question amused some players.
What did you think about C.J. Stroud’s performance tonight? As if it’s possible to draw conclusions from two series in the first preseason game of his NFL career with the Texans’ three best offensive linemen on the bench. “He did good,” wide receiver Nico Collins said. “First preseason. First game out. Everything is going to slow down for everybody. He’ll watch the film and learn from it.”
That was the general consensus inside the locker room after Thursday night’s 20-9 win over the Patriots in the Texans’ preseason-opener at Gillette Stadium. Stroud was making his NFL debut. He played two series and finished 2-for-4 for 13 yards and an interception.
It wasn’t an ideal day for Stroud. The interception was likely one he could have avoided. But he played in only two series, and as frustrating as it was to not have a great day in his first outing, Stroud isn’t going to make too much out of it.
“The competitor in me was like, ‘Coach, let me go back out there, let me fix my wrongdoings,’ ” Stroud said. “But … it is just the preseason, and it’s a learning opportunity for myself, really this whole football team.”
The learning part, is learning that being an NFL quarterback is a process.
The Texans, who haven’t had a winning season in since 2019, invested in Stroud for the long haul. After two consecutive seasons of bad quarterback play, the Texans drafted Stroud No. 2 overall largely because they needed a solution. Stroud likely will be the future face of the franchise.
He’ll also make mistakes as a rookie and that’s OK. Just as long as those mistakes don’t compound. What comes next and how he responds is most important.
“C.J. was fine,” said Demeco Ryans, who was making his head coaching debut. “I think it’s good to have some ups and downs. That’s what this league is all about. It’s about how you respond to the things that happen to you, and I thought his response to it was fine.”
Stroud took responsibility for the interception. He said he needed to trust his eyes in that instance, and he’s right.
The Texans were facing third-and-21 from their own 25-yard line, two plays after he was sacked for a 15-yard loss. His receiver, Tank Dell had flashed open, but Stroud, hesitated and stared down his receiver a little too long. He also had a check down open.
Stroud said he saw the look the Patriots were giving him, and it was a similar look he had saw on film. He knew that there was a possibility that if the safety’s man was blocking, then the safety would likely be tracking his eyes.
“I lost track of that and just forced it,” Stroud said. “Should have just checked it down to Dalton (Schultz). It was a great play by 2 (Jalen Mills). He was kind of just hiding out so I didn’t really see him. I thought I threw a good pass, but of course it wasn’t.”
The turnovers led to three points for the Patriots. And in the grand scheme of things it didn’t matter much. The game was an exhibition. But it was a stark lesson that critical turnovers can quickly change the complexions of games especially when they result in points for the other team.
By no stretch of the imagination was Stroud’s performance good. His 13 yards and 17.7 passer rating were among the fewest of quarterback drafted in the first round since 2017.
There weren’t many positives from Stroud’s two series. His first pass to Collins for eight yards was on the money. He scrambled for positive yards, something he didn’t do much of at Ohio State. And he didn’t make a mistake in his second series.
But that’s it. He didn’t really have the opportunity to prove himself.
The plan was for Stroud to play only two series, and Ryans and his staff stuck to that, pulling him with 7:30 left in the first quarter.
Meanwhile, Davis Mills played four series after Stroud. His first two series weren’t great, either but he responded with a touchdown drive at the end of the second quarter. He finished 9-of-12 for 99 yards and a touchdown.
“Yeah, he got the reps that we were planning for him to get tonight,” Ryans said of Stroud, “and we’ll address each game — like the next week we’ll address that game and see where we are and how many reps he will get then.”
Stroud ought to get more than two series next time he plays, and he likely will as the Texans to continue to sort through their quarterback situation, based on how this one went.
When Stroud returns to Houston, he’ll go back and watch the film of all the things he did wrong, and figure out how he can correct them. And then he’ll go out and give it a try again. The Texans have four joint practices and two more preseason games left to improve before the regular season begins.
He may make some mistakes there too. But it’s about how he responds to that.
Too often last year, the Texans responded to mistakes by making more. They were second in the NFL with 28 turnovers and three pick-sixes and a fumble returned for a touchdown. That can’t be the case this year. Stroud has to learn from his mistakes, and he’ll do that by playing more.
“Yeah, I want the play back and I want to be perfect, but that is what this camp and preseason is for,” Stroud said, “just to make mistakes, so when it comes to regular season, I don’t make those anymore.”