Tag: C.J. Stroud

Patriots rookie QB to make first start against Texans in Week 6

Drake Maye will make his first career start against the Houston Texans in Week 6.

The Houston Texans won’t be facing off against Jacoby Brissett after all.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the New England Patriots are switching at quarterback, turning from the veteran Brissett in favor of rookie Drake Maye.

The Texans will look to go 2-0 against rookies in 2024 after securing a 19-13 victory over Chicago Bears star Caleb Williams in Week 2.

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Maye, the third overall pick in the 2024 draft, replaces the nine-year veteran as the Patriots (1-4) prepare to host the favorites in the AFC South. Brissett isn’t the lone problem to New England’s offensive woes, but he remains a significant one over the four-game losing streak.

Patriots first-year head coach Jerod Mayo said that the way the team played in its lone victory was “unsustainable” because of the low-scoring output. The part is true since New England hasn’t won a game since Week 1 and is currently averaging 12.4 points per game.

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1843760861028200844

Maye will now join Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix as the fourth rookie quarterback to start a game this season. On Monday, the DeMeco Ryans said they would work according to plan to prepare for Maye’s potential first start.

“Whenever you’re preparing for the unknown, the only thing we can prepare for is what we’ve seen on tape with the quarterback that they’ve had play over these first four or five weeks of the season,” Ryans said. “Now, if the young guy gets in, we have to be prepared to adjust, so of course we’ll go back and watch as much as we can on him from his preseason plays. But our focus will just be on, structurally, what they do as an offense.”

Kickoff at Gillette Stadium is scheduled for noon CT.

Texans star C.J. Stroud is proud of Commanders QB Jayden Daniels

Texans star C.J. Stroud is proud of Commanders QB Jayden Daniels.

Entering the 2024 NFL season, C.J. Stroud of the Houston Texans was the NFL’s best young quarterback. As a rookie last season, Stroud led Houston to 10 wins, an AFC South division title and a playoff win. Stroud had a rookie season for the ages.

This offseason, there was speculation about which NFL team could be the 2024 version of last season’s Texans. A popular pick was the Washington Commanders. The comparisons made sense. Stroud was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, while the Commanders selected Jayden Daniels with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

Those comps are looking good through five weeks, as Daniels has the Commanders at 4-1 and headed into a huge Week 6 matchup with Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens.

As a guest on Tuesday’s edition of the “Pat McAfee Show,” Stroud was asked about his rookie success and Daniels.

“Once I got comfortable, confident, is when I started playing really well,” Stroud said. “And I can see that with Jayden, but he hit the ground running from Week 1. I’m super proud of him, talk to him almost every week and really just a fan of his and what he’s been able to do. He’s just getting warmed up. I just hope he continues to stay at it, stay hungry and I know he will because that’s his personality.”

Stroud and Daniels have known one another for years, dating back to their childhoods in Southern California. Daniels has no shortage of mentors, but it’s another positive for him to have such a close friend walk a similar path from childhood to college stardom, the NFL draft, and early NFL success.

Texans QB C.J. Stroud explains meaning behind arm-crossed TD celebration

C.J. Stroud continues to hit more jaw-dropping passes and also the perfect pose to remind fans how he’s special.

When C.J. Stroud finds the end zone through the air, he has a unique way to celebrate.

Rather than jumping up and down for joy, Stroud hits the cross-armed pose and stares at his own sidelines before joining his teammates. According to ESPN’s Pat McAfee, the pose is “one of the coldest reactions” he’s seen in a hot moment.

It was on display when Stroud connected with Nico Collins for a 67-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter of the Houston Texans’ 23-20 win over the Buffalo Bills and remains a fixture of his persona.

What’s the reasoning behind it? During an interview on The Pat McAfee Show, Stound said it’s supposed to serve as a reminder for those watching what he’s capable of accomplishing with a football in his hands.

https://twitter.com/PatMcAfeeShow/status/1843690912456864078/video/1

“It’s regular,” Stroud told McAfee of the now iconic pose. “You mess up, you give me the shot, I’m going to take it. I’m just going to make you pay. I often just have to remind myself, too, like I’m still that guy and I can still play this game at a very, very high level. So, I think that was just one of those moments where I’m like, ‘Yeah, it’s like that.’ I’m not always that way.”

Not only was the pass a beauty that secured Houston’s fourth win of the regular season, but the pass traveled 59.1 yards through the air, per NFL Next Gen Stats.

That marks the fifth-longest completion in the league this season.
Stroud has the confidence to deliver quick strikes, deep shots and jaw-dropping passes left and right for four quarters.

He’s already connected multiple times on the deep ball with Collins this season, including once on a 56-yard ball during Week 1’s win over McAfee’s Indianapolis Colts.

“I’m very humble at the same time, but I know what I can do on the field. I know there’s no defense for the perfect throw. You’ve just got to be able to focus in those moments,” Stroud said of that throw before turning his attention to McAfee.

Stroud said he saw McAfee and Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton at Lucas Oil Stadium in Week 1 and knew he couldn’t let them walk away with a win late in the fourth quarter.

Naturally, he iced the game with a third-and-11 completion to Collins before Joe Mixon picked up once more first down, thus leading to a McAfee meltdown the next day.

“I saw you and Tyrese over there going crazy, so I had to hush y’all boys,” Stroud joked. “I tried to look at y’all after. I think y’all left. Y’all beat the traffic. I was trying to find you.”

Through five games, Stroud ranks third among passers with 1,385 passing yards and seven touchdowns against three interceptions. His 98.2 passer rating ranks 10th nationally.

Stroud will look to strike the pose once more when Houston travels to Gillette Stadium to take on the New England Patriots this Sunday at noon CT.

Texans receive injury update on WR Nico Collins

Nico Collins’ day could be over for the Houston Texans entering halftime against the Buffalo Bills.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

The Houston Texans might be without star receiver Nico Collins for the rest of Sunday’s contest.

Collins, who leads the NFL in receiving yards, is out for the remainder of Sunday’s game after suffering a hamstring injury in the first quarter against the Buffalo Bills.

Houston currently leads 17-3 after a 67-yard touchdown pass from C.J. Stroud to Collins at the end of the first quarter.

When Collins crossed the pylon, he appeared to pull up at the end of the play. After returning to the sidelines, he immediately went over to the blue medical tent for further evaluation.

This isn’t as shocking as some would think since Collins missed practice last week due to a hamstring issue, though he suited up in Sunday’s 24-20 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars while expanding his career totals in receiving yards and receptions.

Entering Sunday, Collins was on pace for over 2,000 receiving yards and 110 catches. He led the league with 489 yards and was second in catches with 30.

If Collins can’t go, Houston could turn to the combination of Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell. Stroud seems to be in rhythm, going 10-of-10 for 177 yards.

The Texans will receive the ball to begin the second half.

Watch: Texans RB Cam Akers score 1st rushing TD vs. Bills

Houston Texans running back Cam Akers is back in the end zone on a 15-yard run against the Buffalo Bills.

The Houston Texans have found success for the first time since the fourth quarter of Week 1.

Houston took an early 7-3 over the Buffalo Bills on a six-play, 70-yard drive, capped off with a 15-yard touchdown run from Cam Akers.

While the run was impressive, the blocking set up by Dalton Schultz and Cade Stover actually opened a crease to secure the score.

Akers gained 11 yards on the previous play to place Houston inside the red zone. He started the day with back-to-back 10-plus-yard carries.

Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud had a few short passes, which his receivers gained extra yards after the catch.

On a screen pass, receiver Nico Collins became the first player to reach 500 receiving yards on the season thanks to a pickup of 12.

For Akers it is the first rushing touchdown since Week 8 of last season. He tore his achilles for the second time in his career the next week.

Akers has since recovered and has been the Texans leading rusher in the absence of starter Joe Mixon.

The Texans will receive the ball to begin the second half.

Watch: Texans WR Nico Collins continues dominant season with TD vs. Bills

Nico Collins just continues his reign of terror for the Houston Texans en route to an early lead against the Buffalo Bills.

Give Nico Collins the Offensive Player of the Year Trophy now.

He’s walking away with some hardware in 2024.

The Houston Texans took a 14-3 lead over the Buffalo Bills thanks to a 67-yard touchdown pass from C.J. Stroud to Collins on a vertical pass on first down. Collins blew past a pair of defenders to go untouched with 1:34 remaining in the first quarter.

Stroud is in his element as the Texans debut their new H-Town Blue jerseys. After connecting with Collins for a pickup of 12 yards on third down, Cam Akers pushed his way across the pylon for a 15-yard touchdown.

Following a three-and-out, offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik chose to attack. Collins won the route and secured his third touchdown of the season.

Entering the second quarter, Collins has two catches for 67 yards. With his receptions, the fourth-year receiver extends his league-leading total to 567 yards.

Stroud finished the first quarter 5-of-5 for 109 yards and a touchdown. Houston will receive the ball to begin the second half.

C.J. Stroud connects with Nico Collins for long Texans score

C.J. Stroud found Nico Collins for a long TD pass

The Houston Texans got the jump on the Buffalo Bills on Sunday in Week Five.

Cam Akers scored the first touchdown for the AFC South champs. Then, C.J. Stroud went deep and found a wide-open Nico Collins for a 67-yard touchdown.

The second-year quarterback was impressed with his work.

NFL analyst gives major praise to Texans QB C.J. Stroud entering Week 5

Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud remains the talk of the NFL world entering Week 5’s matchup against the Buffalo Bills.

C.J. Stroud isn’t the next Patrick Mahomes, but the NFL analysts can’t stop gushing over his potential.

NBC Sports’ Chris Simms praised the second-year Houston Texans signal-caller following his 24-20 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars last Sunday at NRG Stadium. Houston needed 59 minutes and 42 seconds to secure a victory thanks to a 1-yard touchdown pass from Stroud to running back Dare Ogunbowale.

“He’s one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL,” Simms said during NBC’s Football Night in America broadcast. “And I’ll say this, too: I think he may be the best pocket-passing quarterback in all of football. He never misses a target.

“It doesn’t matter if you stop the Texans’ run game or not, because this guy at quarterback, with Nico Collins catching it on the other end, they’re almost unstoppable. C.J. Stroud I can not say enough good things about.”

Simms is right. The duo of Stroud and Collins has been a two-man wrecking crew keeping Houston alive at 3-1 through four weeks. In all three victories, Collins has finished with at least six catches for over 100 yards.

In the Week 3 loss against the Minnesota Vikings, Stroud tossed a pair of interceptions. Collins finished with just 86 receiving yards and only one pass over 20-plus yards downfield.

Stroud taking over games is far from new for Texans fans. Last season, he orchestrated multiple down-to-wire drives to secure the victory, including Week 9’s win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

After securing the first postseason berth in four years en route to winning Offensive Rookie of the Year, Stroud has lofty goals and high expectations to met in 2024. The Texans look to be a contender in the AFC alongside Buffalo, Baltimore and Kansas City.

With the arrival of Stefon Diggs, Houston could be a sneaky and underrated dark horse to hoist up its first Lombardi Trophy in franchise history. The league will have a better understanding of where the Texans lie when they take on the Bills this Sunday at noon CT.

Recap: Jaguars, now 0-4, blow second-half comeback vs. Texans

Recap: Jaguars, now 0-4, blow second-half comeback vs. Texans

Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars took their first second-half lead since effectively fumbling one way to the Dolphins in Week 1, with the quarterback finding wide receiver Christian Kirk for an eight-yard touchdown to go up 20-17 over the Texans with 6:21 left in the third quarter.

Yet Jacksonville gave Houston every chance to claim its lead back Sunday, offering the Texans’ offense four drives to operate after Kirk’s touchdown.

Houston capitalized on its fourth and final try: Quarterback C.J. Stroud connected with former Jaguars running back Dare Ogunbowale on a one-yard score, putting the Texans up 24-20 with 18 seconds remaining in the contest.

A short ensuing kickoff forced a six-second Jacksonville return, which ended in an illegal block in the back penalty by Jaguars linebacker Yasir Abdullah, setting up a 90-yard must-score drive that the offense instead lost nine yards by lateralling on the final play.

The Jaguars had a chance to extend their lead to two possessions one series following their lead-taking touchdown. Powered by a 58-yard Tank Bigsby scamper, Jacksonville exited the third quarter looking at 4th and goal at Houston’s one-yard line.

Jacksonville called a QB Draw play out of an empty set, turning 4th and 1 into 4th and 7 by choice before Lawrence worked downfield. Guards Ezra Cleveland and Brandon Scherff were blown off the line, leading Lawrence to be stuffed at the line of scrimmage by former Jaguars defensive tackle Folorunso Fatukasi, who signed with the Texans this offseason.

The Texans created some chunk plays but struggled to take advantage of the Jaguars’ offense stalling in the fourth quarter, at one point pushing into field goal territory only for Jacksonville defensive tackle Roy Robertson-Harris to produce a 10-yard third-down sack that forced a punt.

But after Houston began its final drive at its own 31-yard line, with 2:54 left in regulation, Stroud rushed for 11 yards, connected with star receiver Nico Collins for chunk gains of 26 and 15 yards and ultimately tossed the touchdown to Ogunbowale that sealed Jacksonville’s fate, now winless four weeks into its 2024 campaign.

Lawrence went three-of-nine passing for 20 yards after his third-quarter touchdown throw to Kirk, awarded three yards for his completion to Kirk on the final play, which the receiver lateralled to Gabe Davis, who pitched it to Lawrence, who threw it backward to running back Travis Etienne Jr. before Houston made a final tackle for loss.

Jacksonville is 0-4 to begin a season for the sixth time in franchise history (1995, 2003, 2013-14 and 2021).

The Jaguars return to Jacksonville for Week 5, set to host the Colts on Sunday, Oct. 6 at 1 p.m. ET. Indianapolis (2-2) is one game behind Houston (3-1) for the No. 1 spot in the AFC South.

Watch: Texans QB C.J. Stroud throws game-winning TD pass vs. Jaguars

C.J. Stroud’s late heroics secure the Houston Texans’ third victory of the young season.

C.J. Stroud is inevitable.

The second-year Houston Texans quarterback never lost composure despite being under duress against a Jacksonville Jaguars pass rush. He remained calm in the pocket and delivered quick, clean strikes.

And because of it, the Texans are sitting 3-1 entering Week 4.

Stroud found running back Dare Ogunbowale for a 1-yard touchdown with 18 seconds remaining to give the Texans the eventual 24-20 win over the AFC South foe. It marked the only points of the second half for the Texans, who welcome the Buffalo Bills next Sunday afternoon.

After getting a crucial third-down stop, the Texans drove 69 yards in nine plays to set up inside the red zone. Stroud found Nico Collins for his 12th catch and a pickup of 26.  He connected with Dalton Schultz inside the red zone for a first-down pickup for six yards.

And Stroud was aggressive with his legs. He ran for first down to open the drive. Stroud also evaded the pressure to his Ogunbowale twice for short-yard gains.

Stroud finished the afternoon 27-of-40 for 345 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 17 yards and a pair of first downs.

Houston is currently 2-0 at NRG Stadium to enter the 2024 season.