Tag: C.J. Stroud

C.J. Stroud dubbed highest Ohio State Football alumni in ESPN top 100

Stroud continues to move on up the respect scale. #GoBucks

The Ohio State Football program has continually produced elite NFL talent. From players like Michael Thomas to, more recently, quarterback C.J. Stroud, the Buckeyes have created a strong pipeline from Columbus to numerous NFL franchises.

Several first-round picks have gone on to be All-Pro-caliber players at the highest level in the sport. That said, ESPN has released its top 100 players entering the 2024 NFL season, and many Buckeyes cracked the list.

C.J. Stroud came in as the top non-Joe Burrow former Ohio State player. Burrow was No. 13, and Stroud was ranked No. 15. Nick Bosa was right after Stroud at No. 16.

“With the added playmakers for Stroud, there’s no reason to think he can’t throw for close to 5,000 yards,” ESPN’s DJ Bien-Aime wrote. “Last year, he led the league in passing yards per game (274) among eligible quarterbacks, and now he has All-Pro wide receiver Stefon Diggs and running back Joe Mixon to help elevate his game. In camp, there have been some days of struggle, but when he has been on, he has ripped the defense apart.”

Multiple Buckeyes did crack the list with the entire 100 able to be viewed here. Of note, Garrett Wilson, the Jets star receiver, came in at No. 35 on the list.

As for Stroud, he put up a historic rookie season, ending with 4,108 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. With the Texans adding Stefon Diggs late last season, their offense is expected to be more potent this upcoming year.

For other players like Bosa, Wilson, and a slew of other Buckeyes, the hopes are high as the 2024 NFL season is set for kickoff in just over a week.

Matthew Stafford and C.J. Stroud trading compliments after Rams-Texans practice was awesome

Matthew Stafford and C.J. Stroud have a ton of mutual respect for each other, which showed after Rams-Texans practice

Earlier this offseason, C.J. Stroud went on an emphatic rant about Matthew Stafford’s greatness. He initially said Stafford might be up there with Tom Brady before backtracking, but he does believe the Rams quarterback would have more Super Bowls than Aaron Rodgers if he was put in the same situation throughout his career.

Well, on Thursday morning in Houston, Stroud was on the same field as a quarterback he’s idolized and loved watching. The Rams and Texans held a joint practice and while both Stafford and Stroud turned in good performances, it was what they said afterwards that was particularly cool.

After raving about Stafford’s toughness, referencing the viral mic’d-up video of the Lions QB winning the game with an injured shoulder, Stroud talked about what else impresses him about the veteran signal caller.

“How he manipulates guys with his eyes, his drops, his arm angles,” Stroud said. “I’ve been a fan of Matt Stafford for a long time and I wasn’t trying to be a fanboy today, but I asked him a lot of questions. Just try to learn and he was really honest with me and wasn’t, like, mean, which I appreciate. Definitely a huge fan of his, one of my favorite quarterbacks of all time so to share a field with him was dope.”

As big a fan as Stroud is of Stafford, the Rams QB is equally impressed by the Texans’ second-year player. During his media session, Stafford shared what he loves about Stroud’s game.

It wasn’t just the usual run-of-the-mill stuff, either. Stafford knows how good Stroud is and obviously watches him play because he made sure to tell the quarterback how great his first preseason touchdown pass was.

“I’m a huge fan of watching him play. Throws the ball with ease, plays with like a really calm aggression. His first touchdown to Tank Dell, letter of the law in the preseason this year. That’s buzz coverage right into a dagger window. Usually not throwing that ball, but hey, they didn’t play it as well as they could, and he fit in there for a touchdown. That’s playing ball in an aggressive way, but smart. I let him know that I thought it was a pretty sweet play. He plays at a really high level, especially for a young kid. They have a lot of talent around him which is a lot of fun to watch and he does a great job of getting those guys the ball.”

Stroud wasn’t the only young quarterback to give Stafford his flowers this offseason. Rookie Caleb Williams did the same, calling Stafford one of the two best quarterbacks in the NFL right now, just behind Aaron Rodgers.

Stafford remembers being the young guy who was looking up to veterans like Brett Favre and Peyton Manning, so he’s humbled by the praise he’s receiving from Stroud and Williams.

“It’s humbling. I remember being in their shoes thinking the same thing about Brett Favre and Peyton Manning when I got to go against those guys at the beginning of my career,” Stafford said. “I’m not putting myself in that same breath, but the older guys. It was a really cool experience. I’ll never forget playing Brett when he was in Minnesota and I was in Detroit, and he came up to me and was like, ‘Hey man, I’m a big fan.’ I’m like, ‘You can’t say that to me, right? I’m the fan of you. I’ve been watching you play for forever.’ So it is cool. It’s humbling that these guys are paying attention and as big of fans as they might be of me, I wish nothing but the best for those guys. This position is hard. It’s humbling. It’s difficult. There are ups [and] there are downs. Guys that play this position for a long time know you have to stick together and pull for each other so I’m pulling for those guys.”

Is Texans QB C.J. Stroud a top option in fantasy football for 2024?

Yahoo Sports isn’t buying the hype of Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud for fantasy football entering 2024.

The Houston Texans have a potential MVP quarterback in second-year starter C.J. Stroud.

Will fans have a fantasy football MVP if they draft the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year as the starting signal-caller?

According to Yahoo Sports, that’s unlikely.

Stroud’s franchise record-setting rookie season looked great in person, but it wasn’t enough to land him among the top 10 passers in fantasy last season. Even with the additions of All-Pro receiver Stefon Diggs and Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon, Yahoo’s Kate Magdziuk has the former No. 2 overall pick as part of her “All-Fade Team” in 2024.

“It’s difficult to fade Stroud given the strength of his receiving corps; the opportunity to throw to the trio of Nico Collins, Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell is nothing to scoff at, and it should lead to continued efficiency in the passing game and likely, an increase in touchdown production,” Magdziuk writes. “But will it be enough to make up for the lack of edge he gives in terms of rushing?

“Keep in mind that there have been just two quarterbacks to finish top five at the position with fewer than 200 rushing yards over the past five seasons: Tom Brady (2021) and Aaron Rodgers (2021, 2020). Stroud, meanwhile, has never rushed for over 200 yards in a single season (even dating back to high school).”

While Magdziuk isn’t wrong about the Texans’ receiver room, she isn’t entirely wrong about the ground game. Houston ranked 23rd overall in rushing last season behind an underwhelming Devin Singletary and anemic Dameon Pierce.

Mixon, a four-time 1,000-yard runner, makes up for explosive plays with consistent reps. Production was the Pro Bowler’s calling card in Cincinnati, as he averaged 259 carries per season over his last four healthy campaigns. That averages to around 16 carries per contest.

Stroud might be this year’s Mahomes or Jackson as a sophomore standout who wins the league’s highest honor, but fantasy might be his Achilles heel. Rodgers has never been known as a star in the game played by friends, but he’s gone on to win four league MVPs and is a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame.

Maybe that’s Stroud’s future?

Magdziuk suggests that reaching for Jackson or waiting for a more mobile quarterback in the later rounds might be the better ploy for winning the trophy.

“I’d prefer spending up a round earlier on Lamar Jackson (ADP of 35.5) or holding off for an Anthony Richardson or Kyler Murray, who are being drafted after Stroud in Yahoo leagues,” Magdziuk writes.

Texans: How did QB C.J. Stroud look against the New York Giants?

Overall, how good did C.J. Stroud look in Saturday’s contest against the New York Giants?

Regardless of how towering the defense looks, the receiver play, or the offensive line blocks, everything starts and ends with C.J. Stroud if the Houston Texans stand a chance of making it back to the postseason.

It’s the preseason, so Stroud wasn’t expected to play in the second half. Could he have finished the drive as the clock struck zero following a 7-0 lead over the New York Giants in the first quarter at NRG Stadium? Perhaps, but DeMeco Ryans already knows Stroud hasn’t reached his ceiling entering Year 2.

An extra few preseason snaps won’t deter that notion, either.

“We have a lot of playmakers on the offensive side of the ball,” Ryans said. “A lot of people to distribute to, which is a good thing. I thought our guys played really well together and I was excited with what our first offense did.”

Stroud clicked during his 15 minutes of action in Saturday’s 28-10 win over the Giants. He looked calm in the pocket without Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil protecting one side of the field.

Most of his throws were on-point. If they missed, it wasn’t by much. And the deep ball accuracy was right on the money in the two series he played. Pinned at their own 1-yard line, Stroud connected with Dalton Schultz for a preseason-long 29-yard gain.

He found Nico Collins for a pickup of 24 yards and a fresh set of downs. Even Stefon Diggs got into the action with a 9-yard gain on third-and-2.

Stroud finished 7-of-10 for 88 yards, though it should have been more with a 23-yard pass to Tank Dell. A holding call against Brevin Jordan negated the play and first down.

Schultz, who last season was Stroud’s top target on third down, led all starters with three catches for 39 yards. That could become a new norm given the defense’s attention to the outside targets.

“Dalton is a vet’s vet,” Stroud said of his tight end. “He’s somebody that comes in and works hard every day. Not only just on the field is he a mismatch and somebody who can create separation and do a lot of great things, but also he’s just a great leader.”

Houston doesn’t need to see its starters play in Saturday’s preseason finale against the Los Angeles Rams. Tunsil and Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon haven’t played all preseason and it would be perplexing to see them take snaps over players fighting for roster spots.

Stroud, who’s currently 9-of-14 for 129 yards and a touchdown in two preseason games, is the offense’s anchor. Houston won 11 combined games in three seasons before the No. 2 overall pick touched down at NRG Stadium in April. 2023.

The Texans won 11 total games in one season behind Stroud en route to a division title. Stroud made franchise history by becoming the first offensive player to win Rookie of the Year and now looks to be the first player ever to take home MVP honors.

Even if Stroud hasn’t been perfect this preseason, that’ll happen when live reps count against the record. He’ll connect sometimes with Diggs, Dell, or Collins for an explosive first down or score. He’ll sometimes lose the battle and return to the sidelines while the punt team takes the field.

That’s football. No one is perfect every snap, not even tyrants like Stroud, Lamar Jackson or Patrick Mahomes.

The Texans saw progression, timing and precise throws from their quarterback in two outings. They also saw a passer survey the field to find multiple targets in his “five-headed monster” attack.

“It’s up to my job to spread it and throw it to the guys who are open,” Stroud said. “I think all five positions, skill positions, do a great job of that.”

Texans TE Dalton Schultz remains consistent target for C.J. Stroud in win over Giants

Dalton Schultz could be the secret weapon for the Houston Texans’ “five-headed monster” in 2024.

Stefon Diggs made his first catch as a member of the Houston Texans for a first down.

Nico Collins showed last season wasn’t a fluke with a 24-yard catch-and-run during the first quarter against the New York Giants on Saturday afternoon.

Even Tank Dell made a highlight grab for a gain of 23 before being negated because of a holding call.

But C.J. Stroud’s top target in a 28-10 win over the Giants wasn’t one of perhaps the NFL’s top receiver trios. Instead, it was last year’s security blanket Dalton Schultz, who might end up being the biggest surprise of Houston’s “five-headed monster.”

“Dalton is a reliable, trustworthy player. He finds a way to get open, especially third down,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Thursday. “He has really great hands. He’s always like in between the hashes right there. He’s able to make a play, and he’s available for C.J. to get the ball to him. Dalton has done that his entire career.”

By the end of the first quarter, Schultz led all starters with three catches for 39 yards. He consistently found creases in the defense for opportunities to strike, though Stroud wanted to get others involved in the aerial attack.

Perhaps that security was best on display on 2nd-and-10 at the 1-yard line when Stroud took a deep shot across the middle for a gain of 26, his longest pass of the day. That was enough to get Houston out of the end zone for a potential safety.

“He’s done a good job for us since he’s been here,” Ryans said. “I think C.J. sees that and he knows that he’s a reliable target.”

After spending five seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, Schultz bet on himself by signing a one-year deal with Houston last offseason. Not only did he finish top-12 among tight ends in every receiving metric, but he was one of the Texans’ most targeted players on third down.

Houston rewarded him with a new three-year extension worth $36 million before free agency began.

“Dalton is a vet’s vet,” Stroud said postgame. “He’s somebody that comes in and works hard every day. Not only just on the field is he a mismatch and somebody who can create separation and do a lot of great things, but also he’s just a great leader.”

The Texans’ seventh-ranked passing attack could improve with the addition of Diggs, a four-time Pro Bowler and six-time 1,000-yard receiver. Since joining the Bills in 2020, he’s averaged 103 receptions and over 1,100 yards per year.

Dell was on pace for a 1,200-yard rookie campaign before suffering a broken leg in early December.

Collins, who signed a three-year extension before summer workouts, might be the next Pro Bowl target to follow in the footsteps of DeAndre Hopkins and Hall of Fame receiver Andre Johnson.

All three receivers could surpass the 1,000-yard marker before the season’s end, but Schultz will remain a factor in the passing attack. His consistency serves as a trustworthy option for Stroud across the middle of the field.

“If you’re open, you get the ball,” Stroud said. “That’s kind of just how football is. It’s up to my job to spread it and throw it to the guys who are open. I think all five positions, skill positions, do a great job of that.”

Top images from Texans’ 28-10 win over the Giants

Check out some of the top photos from Saturday’s victory at NRG Stadium.

The Houston Texans improved to 2-1 in the preseason following a 28-10 win over the New York Giants.

C.J. Stroud completed 8 of 11 passes, including a first-down strike to newcomer Stefon Diggs, for 88 yards. John Metchie III was the star of the game with six catches for 68 yards, including a 3-yard touchdown.

Defensively, Jalen Pitre picked off Daniel Jones for a 6-yard touchdown on the second drive to give Houston an early 7-0 lead. Deep in the red zone, Derek Stingley Jr. intercepted a pass intended for former Tennessee star Jalin Hyatt.

Here are some of the top photos from Saturday’s contest at NRG Stadium.

Watch: WR Stefon Diggs makes first catch as member of Texans

Former All-Pro wide receiver Stefon Diggs made his first catch with the Houston Texans since being traded to the team in the offseason.

After a week of the duo’s connection growing, Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud connected with former All-Pro receiver Stefon Diggs in a live game.

Stroud hit Diggs on a short route that gained nine yards to convert a third-and-two. The catch marked Diggs’ first since being acquired by the Texans in the offseason.

Houston’s risk not pay off the drive, eventually turning it over on downs in the red zone. Stroud was an effective 6-for-9 for 57 yards, connecting with four different targets.

Diggs came to Houston in an offseason trade that saw the Texans send a 2025 second-round pick in exchange for the Pro Bowl caliber wideout.

The Texans will receive to begin the second half.

Texans training camp: C.J. Stroud and Stefon Diggs connection continues to blossom

Stefon Diggs might have been run out of town last year in Buffalo, but he’s running his way to being the Houston Texans’ No. 1 target in 2024.

Stefon Diggs was brought over from Buffalo to help the Houston Texans extend their explosive passing attack.

On Wednesday, the can’t-miss plays reached a new level.

Diggs and second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud looked in sync deep downfield as the duo connected for a pair of touchdown passes. One went for 40 yards. The other went for 60.

Even with Nico Collins and Tank Dell on the roster, Diggs remains the top name nationally. And even after a sluggish finish to his time in Buffalo, the 30-year-old still looks like a prominent No. 1 receiver and nightmare in man coverage for defensive backs.

“He’s got wicked hands, like wicked hands,” Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke said following Wednesday’s practice. When the ball’s in his vicinity, he can snatch it.”

Diggs, a four-time Pro Bowl target for Josh Allen, isn’t slowing down. During one-on-one drills, he bested rookie cornerback Kamari Lassiter all three times, though one of the passes went out of bounds.

He’s also held his own against Derek Stingley Jr. in coverage. He’s lost a few reps. He’s also won more now with extensive reps alongside Stroud.

“The amount of times those two have put in together with no one else around, with no one watching, no video cameras filming for coaches, you guys not here, they are making sure they are putting the work in,” Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik said. “We know that and we have seen it a lot of times before it comes to fruition and practice in team periods. You can see it in routes on air.”

Diggs needed a fresh start after another playoff loss in Buffalo. His role decreased after the Bills fired offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey and promoted quarterbacks coach Joe Brady.

Even with a lackluster end, Diggs still finished with 107 receptions for 1,183 yards and eight touchdowns. He was on pace for an All-Pro year before Dorsey’s departure and has posted six consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns since 2019 with the Vikings.

“He’s got some of the better hands I’ve seen, and then just his ability to get open from an understanding standpoint and [his] route-running, it’s impressive,” Burke said.

So far, Diggs’ role on gamedays has been limited. He didn’t suit up with the rest of the starters in the Hall of Fame game. Last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he played two drives and wasn’t targeted in a 20-12 win.

Starters will play on Saturday against the New York Giants in the preseason home opener and Diggs is expected to see more action. Perhaps fans will finally see him reach the end zone for six points.

If they don’t on Saturday, they’ll have 17 games to catch him this fall. Even with Collins and Dell, Diggs has delivered in practice.

He plans to deliver on Sundays, too.

Colts send message to Texans, ready to reignite ‘bad blood’ between two franchises

Get ready for a rumble in Lucas Oil Stadium come Week 1 between two times who last played for a shot at the postseason.

Who are the Houston Texans’ arch-rivals in the AFC South?

The Jacksonville Jaguars spent most of the 2000s battling with Houston for third place in the division. Last season, their downfall led the the Texans’ triumph en route to a division title.

The Tennessee Titans hightailed it out of H-Town when Bud Adams elected to move the team from the Astrodome to build a new stadium following the 1996 season.

What’s worse is the Houston Oilers logo, branding and color scheme belong to the Adams family, thus adding more fuel to the fire whenever the Titans don that Love-Ya Blue whenever the Texans travel to Nissan Stadium.

But the Indianapolis Colts take first place for bitter foe entering 2024. One play separated the two squads from reaching the postseason last year under first-year coaches Shane Steichen and DeMeco Ryans.

Houston converted. Indianapolis didn’t.

That hatred has lingered at Lucas Oil Stadium for months since the Texans clinched the AFC South for the first time since 2019 and Colts players are ready to light the torch while hopefully giving fans what they pay for.

“I definitely think there’s some bad blood between the two teams,” Colts defensive lineman DeForest Buckner told Fan Duel’s Kay Adams. “C.J. [Stroud]’s been talking a little bit on the offseason. [Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin’s] been talking a little bit in the offseason. … It’s one of those rivalries you gotta look out for.”

The Texans, who finished 11-8 last season following a loss in the AFC Divisional Round to Baltimore, upgraded their roster in the offseason to push them into Super Bowl contention. They added Pro Bowlers Danielle Hunter, Stefon Diggs and Joe Mixon, plus brought in roleplayers like Azeez Al-Shaair and Denico Autry.

The Colts elected to run it back with basically the same 9-8 squad, though former first-round pick Anthony Richardson will enter the mix. He put on a showcase the first four weeks of the season before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury.

Texans fans might think they have the better quarterback, but Richardson kickstarted a victory in Week 2 over Houston with a pair of rushing touchdowns in the first quarter before leaving with a concussion.

The AFC South belongs to Houston for the moment, though three teams have claimed the title since 2018. Indianapolis, which last won the division in 2014, looks to end its 10-year drought with a win over the Texans in Week 1.

Por Bowl running back Jonathan Taylor mentioned that Colts players felt disrespected when Houston clinched the division in Week 18. He plans on returning the favor come Sept. 8.

“Someone is coming into Lucas Oil Stadium and they’re tryna wipe their paws, wipe their feet right on top of us,” Taylor said. “We can’t let that happen.”

WATCH: Texans QB C.J. Stroud joins Luke Combs on stage at NRG Stadium, owner Cal McNair shotguns beer

C.J. Stroud and Cal McNair were the stars on Saturday night opposite Luke Combs.

First, it was Glen Powell.

Now, it’s C.J. Stroud.

The Houston Texans quarterback joined Grammy Award-winning country artist Luke Combs on stage at NRG Stadium for night No. 2 of his back-to-back sellout crowd concert.

Several other Texans players joined the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year on stage, as did CEO and owner Cal McNair. Known for shotgunning beers with a select few folks before one of his hit songs, Combs toasted McNair before ripping one back.

Stroud looked the part of a native Texan, donning a white cowboy hat and Carhartt jacket. Several other Texans players were also seen wearing similar attire, embracing the culture of life at the home of the largest rodeo in the state.

It was a moment to remember for both Stroud and McNair, two fixtures of last season’s turnaround under first-year coach DeMeco Ryans. Fans cheered when Stroud took the stage, but erupted when McNair shotgunned on stage to cap off a memorable evening.

Combs might be gone, but the Texans have arrived following their 11-day road trip away from home. They’ll host the New York Giants on August 17 for their preseason home opener.

Kickoff is scheduled for noon CT.