Tag: Texans captains

Texans QB C.J. Stroud meets early goal with captain title

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud has met one of his goals for his rookie season by earning a captain role.

As rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud stood at the podium after the Houston Texans’ victory over the New Orleans Saints in their final preseason game, he was asked about his feelings towards winning over the locker room in the four months he had been with the organization.

“Honestly, I think that means a little more,” said Stroud. “Something about football, I think everything kind of happens naturally. Like either you’re going to play good or you’re not. Whatever is going to happen happens. But locker rooms, those are where bonds and brotherhood and things that really mean something to me happen.”

Stroud was officially named the starter for Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens after the Saints game as well, and on Monday, he received another honor from the coaching staff and teammates as he was named team captain along with offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil and safeties Jalen Pitre and Jimmie Ward.

“With C.J. earning the captain status, it says a lot about his teammates and what he’s done over a short period of time of being with these guys,” said Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans who was also named a captain his rookie season with Houston. “The guys respect him. The locker room respects him; they look up to him.”

“Even though he’s a young guy, as I told our guys, you can be a leader. I don’t care if you’re a young guy; leadership doesn’t just go to the oldest guy in the room. It’s about [finding] who is the man that can get others around them to play better. And that’s what C.J. can do; that’s what he provides for our team.”

Throughout training camp, the 21-year-old has shown improvement and consistency, which goes a long way with players on both sides of the ball. Defensive back Steven Nelson loves his “Take Charge” attitude, while defensive lineman Jonathan Greenard raves about the leadership skills he has displayed ever since he stepped foot into NRG Stadium.

Stroud, who was selected with the second overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, aimed high when he set his standards for rookie accomplishments, and being named captain was one of them.

“It was something that I had as a goal,” Stroud said in his press conference on Wednesday. “I think even more importantly, I don’t think it was given to me just because I’m the quarterback. I think from day one, I’ve been a vocal leader. I think I’ve led by example, as well. I’m taking strides every day, just trying to fix problems when they’re there, trying to help the coaches while being a coach on the field.

“It was a huge honor and a blessing being able to be a rookie and be able to be a captain. I don’t take that lightly, and I’m going to do my best to not only be the best person I can be but lead this franchise and this organization and this community like I know I should, and I plan to do such.”

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Texans’ captains reflect dawn of new era

The Houston Texans’ selection of captains demonstrates the dawn of a new era for the team.

HOUSTON — Winning the locker room was a goal of rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud coming into the Houston Texans organization. Monday, part of that process became a reality as he was named one of four players to serve as a team captain for the 2023 NFL season. The second overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft was a captain during his final season at Ohio State, where he was also a two-time Heisman Trophy finalist.

Laremy Tunsil, a three-time Pro Bowl selection and one of the best left tackles in the game, will also serve as a team captain for the second straight year for Houston. He took over captain duties last season when the responsibility was stripped from former disgruntled wide receiver Brandin Cooks after he was very transparent that he no longer wanted to be a part of the franchise.

Houston is headed into the second phase of their rebuilding process, and one of the staples of the team resides in the safety position with Jimmie Ward and Jalen Pitre.

Ward signed with the Texans this past off-season, following his former defensive coordinator, DeMeco Ryans, who the team hired as their new head coach earlier this year after former head coach Lovie Smith was fired. During his nine years with the San Francisco 49ers, he was named a team captain twice in the last two seasons.

The announcement of Jalen Pitre becoming a team captain was just a formality, as he has displayed authentic leadership and characteristics on and off the field since the Texans selected him in the second round of the 2022 draft. The hometown kid out of Stafford High School made a name for himself by recording 147 tackles and five sacks in his rookie season.

Houston will open their season on the road against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. Kickoff is at noon (CST).

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Meet the 2022 Houston Texans team captains

The Houston Texans named their five team captains. Take a look at the five players who will embody team leadership in 2022.

The Houston Texans named their 2022 team captains. The vote was held on Sept. 5, but coach Lovie Smith revealed the results when he met with reporters Wednesday.

Smith went over the five captains who will represent the Texans’ leadership for the upcoming season. The offense and defense each get two captains while the special teams will have one captain.

“The amount of other teammates that got votes that I could easily have seen in those leadership roles, that’s another step along the way,” Smith said. “As I said, it was good today.”

Here is a look at the five Texans captains.

Texans QB Davis Mills says being voted captain ‘doesn’t change anything’

Houston Texans quarterback Davis Mills says that the workload and expectations are not altered for him simply because he is a team captain.

Lovie Smith gave away on the first day of training camp he would vote for Davis Mills as one of the team captains.

The Houston Texans’ coach was aware of the work that the quarterback had put over the course of the offseason workouts heading into his second season. Also voting for Mills would instill a sense of belief in the former Stanford product that could be more catalytic as it would quell any ambiguity about Mills as a leader.

It’s official: Mills is an offensive captain for the Texans in 2022.

“It’s extremely humbling,” Mills told reporters Wednesday. “The rest of the team voted me up there. So, I mean, ready to attack this season as one of the leaders of the team. I guess it goes to show how hard I’ve worked this offseason and throughout camp so far.”

Even though Mills’ captaincy is one of the best endorsements he has received thus far, the former 2021 third-rounder isn’t going to let it sway him from his workload or expectations.

“I mean, being voted captain doesn’t change anything,” said Mills. “We still got to come out with the same mentality everyday and put our head down and get to work.”

The Texan’s first game is against the Indianapolis Colts Sunday at 12:00 p.m. Central Time at NRG Stadium. Houston is 2-0 against Indianapolis on Opening Day, and extending such an undefeated mark would amplify the positive feelings that have swept through the Bayou City about their NFL team.

Texans QB Davis Mills says it is ‘humbling’ to have coach Lovie Smith vote for him as a team captain

Houston Texans quarterback Davis Mills told @sportsradio610 that having Lovie Smith in his corner regarding a team captain spot is “humbling.”

Houston Texans quarterback Davis Mills is getting plenty of support from the organization.

The Texans did not draft a quarterback, nor did they sign anyone who can realistically compete with Mills for the job. Houston has also given their former 2021 third-round pick all of the first-team reps throughout the offseason program and through four days of training camp.

Coach Lovie Smith showed more support for Mills on the first day of camp when he told reporters that he would vote for the Stanford product as one of their team captains when the time came.

Mills joined “In The Loop” on Sports Radio 610 [KILT-AM] Aug. 1 to talk about what it meant to have Smith on his side so early into training camp.

“It’s pretty cool,” Mills said. “Obviously it’s humbling. I think I still have a lot to prove and a lot to work everyday we come out here on the field. Got to prove it to my teammates. Got to prove it to myself. But I’m here to work and get better each and every day. So, again, I think the leadership role comes with being a quarterback. You got to step up into that role and lead the team and I feel very confident and comfortable doing that. I’m ready to roll with that.”

Although Mills’ 2-9 record from last season casts doubts on his ability to lead Houston to anything other than another four-win campaign, he went 2-3 over the final five games with a 9-2 touchdown to interception ratio and a 102.4 passer rating. Houston also took the Tennessee Titans to the wire in Week 18, a game the Titans needed to secure home-field advantage, with a close 28-25 loss at NRG Stadium.

“I think I really took the momentum from the last couple of games last season when we really started playing some of our best football, I took it into the offseason and I showed up at OTAs and really at the start of this camp,” said Mills. “And I really carried on that momentum. I think we’ve been playing really well as an offensive unit so far. I’m excited to go out and put up some points in preseason and once we kickoff the season versus the [Indianapolis] Colts at home.”

If the Texans avoid any voter remorse when it comes to Mills as team captain, it would solve the quarterback situation at least throughout the remainder of Mills’ rookie contract, which is up after the 2024 season.

Texans QB Davis Mills says it is ‘awesome’ Lovie Smith would vote for him as team captain

Houston Texans quarterback Davis Mills appreciates coach Lovie Smith’s confidence in him by stating he would vote for him as a team captain.

Houston Texans coach Lovie Smith pushed his chips to the center of the table early in training camp when he told reporters that he would vote for Davis Mills as team captain.

The statement was bold given the fact the the former 2021 third-rounder from Stanford went 2-9 as a starter in his rookie season. Even though with the Texans giving Mills all of the first-team reps at quarterback, there is ambiguity as to whether he is worthy of being a team captain.

Mills believes that he just one of many leaders on the team.

“It’s awesome,” Mills told reporters after the third day of training camp Monday at Houston Methodist Training Center. “Obviously we still have a lot of time to go before captain voting, but I think I’ve worked hard. I know we have a lot of guys, though, that have stepped up and been leading the team. I don’t know if I can pinpoint it entirely on myself, but that’s an honor.”

If Mills were to be a team captain, it would be a sign of the growth he has undertaking in 2022. What the Texans would need is for their captain to excel in the role and help Houston get back to playing competitive football on a weekly basis.

Texans coach Lovie Smith says he would vote for QB Davis Mills for team captain

Coach Lovie Smith explained why second-year quarterback Davis Mills is going to get his vote as one of the Houston Texans’ captains.

There is a big election coming up in the fall and everyone knows it.

The Houston Texans will be electing their team captains the Monday before their Week 1 tilt with the Indianapolis Colts. Election day is Sept. 5, and coach Lovie Smith is already making a compelling case for second-year quarterback Davis Mills.

Smith met with reporters after the first day of training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center and detailed why he would vote for Mills as a team captain.

“First, showing up — every time we open up the building he’s been there,” said Smith. “He leads everything. You see him the first to do everything, and then though making plays.”

According to Smith, the team leaders are established on both sides of the ball and, “there’s no doubt whose ours is.”

Smith and the rest of the team will get one vote for team captains.

“I’m going to vote for one special team, one offense, one defensive guy,” Smith said. “Davis Mills, of course, gets my vote for captain.”

With the Texans having confidence in Mills, it should help the second-year signal caller excel in his role as Houston’s starter — at least for 2022. Another four-win campaign may have the Texans looking for other answers at quarterback.

As of the first day of training camp, it seems Mills is the captain now.