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DJ Bien-Aime, ESPN
HOUSTON — Following the Houston Texans’ 17-13 win in their preseason finale against the New Orleans Saints, head coach DeMeco Ryans announced that rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud will be leading the Texans as the starter in Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens.
Reflecting on this opportunity, Stroud expressed gratitude: “It is truly a blessing and a result of my hard work and dedication. However, this doesn’t change anything. I will continue to work even harder. Being a young starter in this league is not easy, but I have the trust and faith of my coaches. I will give my best on the field.”
The Texans were the last team in the NFL to reveal their starting quarterback, but Ryans’ decision to name Stroud as the starter was based on his performance since being drafted and his determination to improve.
Stroud, the second overall pick in this year’s draft, showcased his abilities in the preseason games, completing 11 of 18 passes for 89 yards, with one touchdown and one interception in eight series.
In Week 1, Stroud will join two other rookie quarterbacks selected in the top five of this year’s draft who will also start: Bryce Young for the Carolina Panthers and Anthony Richardson for the Indianapolis Colts.
It is not surprising that Stroud secured the starting role, as it is common for quarterbacks drafted in the top five to start in their rookie season. Since the 2011 NFL collective bargaining agreement, 11 out of the 17 quarterbacks selected in the top five have started in Week 1.
During training camp, Stroud competed with Davis Mills for the starting quarterback position, but he quickly emerged as the front-runner and received all the first-team reps from Ryans.
The Texans have struggled on the field in recent seasons, ranking 31st in QBR (33.3) and posting a record of 7-26-1. Hoping to find their franchise quarterback since trading Deshaun Watson, they turned to Stroud with high expectations.
Stroud’s debut will be against the Baltimore Ravens, led by the 2019 MVP Lamar Jackson and a defense that finished third in scoring defense (18.5 points per game) in 2022.
Historically, rookie quarterbacks drafted in the top five and starting in Week 1 have a record of 4-6-1, with a completion percentage of 59%, 22 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions since 2011.
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