The Houston Texans have started off their preseason with a bang, defeating the New England Patriots 20-9 in a hard-fought victory. The Texans were led by quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, as well as running back Duke Johnson, who had a strong performance with 78 yards on the ground.
However, the biggest story of the game was the debut of second overall pick C.J. Stroud. Stroud, who was drafted out of Ohio State, struggled in his first game as a professional, completing just 8 of 17 passes for 64 yards and an interception. Stroud also had two fumbles, one of which was recovered by the Patriots.
Despite Stroud’s struggles, Texans head coach David Culley was pleased with his performance. “C.J. did some good things,” Culley said after the game. “He made some mistakes, but that’s to be expected from a rookie quarterback. We’ll continue to work with him and help him develop.”
The Texans will look to build on their victory as they prepare for their next preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys. As for Stroud, he will look to bounce back from his debut and prove why he was worthy of being selected second overall in the 2021 NFL Draft.
