Following their preseason victory over the New Orleans Saints, the Houston Texans have chosen C.J. Stroud as their starting quarterback for the opening week of the upcoming NFL season. ThE announcement was made by the head coach DeMeco Ryans.
Stroud, shared his sentiments, stating, "It was definitely a blessing, something that I think I worked for and definitely earned. At the same time, nothing else really changes. Still going to work like the way I'm working but even more now. I'm blessed enough to be able to be a starter, so young in this league, which isn't the easiest thing to do. But I know my coaches have trust and faith in me, so I'll go out there and do my best."
The decision to start Stroud comes after careful consideration by Coach Ryans. He observed Stroud's progress since being drafted and his commitment to continuous improvement. Ryans noted, "It's been over the course of the entire process of OTAs, training camp preseason games, just seeing the complete product and knowing CJ's desire to continue to better," highlighting Stroud's dedication to growth.
Stroud, drafted as the No. 2 pick, showed his skills in every preseason game. He completed 11 of 18 passes for 89 yards, including one touchdown and one interception across eight series.
Stroud joins fellow rookie quarterbacks, Bryce Young of the Carolina Panthers and Anthony Richardson of the Indianapolis Colts, all selected within the top five of this year's draft, who are also slated to start in Week 1.
Since 2011 NFL collective bargaining agreement, 11 out of 17 quarterbacks selected in the top five have begun their NFL journey by starting in the opening week.
Stroud's journey to the starting position involved a training camp competition with Davis Mills, as both quarterbacks shared starting reps. Eventually, Stroud's performance during practice and preseason games earned him the starting role, as stated by Coach Ryans.
With a 31st ranking in terms of QBR (33.3) over the last two seasons, Texans are hopeful that Stroud can fulfill the role of a franchise quarterback, a role that has been sought since the departure of former quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Stroud's inaugural appearance as a starting quarterback will be against the formidable Baltimore Ravens, led by quarterback Lamar Jackson, the 2019 MVP. The Ravens boast a strong defense, finishing third in scoring defense (18.5 points per game) in the 2022 season.
Analyzing historical data, rookie quarterbacks chosen within the top five and starting in Week 1 have shown mixed results. Since 2011, they have maintained a record of 4-6-1, with a 59% completion rate, 22 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions.
