Texans QB C.J. Stroud misses another OTA practice, DeMeco Ryans explains
Texans QB C.J. Stroud misses another OTA practice, DeMeco Ryans explains
Another update has come down from headquarters surrounding Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud entering Week 2 of organized team activities.
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said that Stroud is currently dealing with 'general soreness' in his throwing shoulder, but maintained that he's not concerned that the issue will affect him moving forward. When asked for a timetable of his return, Ryans again said it was just "general soreness."
'We're taking extra precautions with him,' Ryans said in his press conference on Tuesday. 'But he'll be good to go. No concerns on my end.'
Stroud, who could be up for a new contract following this season, hasn't thrown since the start of OTAs. While he hasn't missed practice and has been in meetings, the 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year has yet to run full drills in new offensive coordinator Nick Caley's system.
'Whenever he's ready to go, he'll be ready,' Ryans said, addressing Stroud's issue.
Former starter and veteran backup Davis Mills has been running with the runs, while second-year passer Kedon Slovis has spent the majority of reps with the second- and thrid teams.
While Stroud played in all 17 games last season, he was also sacked 54 times. That's enough of a concern following last year's divisional round loss to ponder if he was dealing with an issue entering the offseason. Ryans did not specifiy if Stroud underwent any procedures during his offseason ahead of drills.
No one, for now, seems to be concerned on his role. Caley said last week that the passer remains attentive in drills. On Tuesday, veteran receiver Christian Kirk mentioned the two have built a rapport off the field while he's been limited.
'If he sees a guy make a mistake or feels like they could do it better, he's going up to them and coaching," Kirk said. That's big for a quarterback going into his third season. That's stuff that you see from guys who have been in the league even longer.'
While the Texans expect Stroud back by training camp, no one seems to be hitting the panic button yet.
'I know that when it's time for us to get rolling, he's going to hop in there and just keep elevating us as an offense,' Kirk said.
The Texans will have several practices closed to the media this week and return in front of their eyes next Tuesday.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Laremy Tunsil displaying leadership while away from the Commanders
New Washington Commanders left tackle Laremy Tunsil may not have been with the team throughout the voluntary offseason program. Still, he found ways to exhibit veteran leadership, specifically with rookie first-round pick Josh Conerly Jr. Natalie Spala of ABC News 7 in Washington, D.C., recently caught up with offensive line coach Bobby Johnson after OTAs this week in Ashburn. Johnson revealed that Tunsil was the first person to reach out to Conerly after the Commanders selected him 29th overall in the 2025 NFL draft. Advertisement "He was the first guy to reach out to Josh when Josh got drafted," Johnson said. "So, you automatically see a guy who is willing to be a leader and how he can help this young guy. I'm excited to see how fast that accelerates Josh's development. Because here is a guy who has done it at a high level, who's very talented, that can kind of give Josh the answers to the test." This is interesting because, reportedly, Tunsil's play wasn't the issue in Houston. Here's what Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated wrote about the Tunsil trade from the Texans' perspective: In short, DeMeco Ryans feels like the culture he wants across the board is in place on defense but not on offense and that a toxic atmosphere in the offensive line room was a root cause. And while Tunsil wasn't a bad guy (he was actually well-liked), he wasn't the type of leader to turn the ship—and needed to be as one of its captains. Essentially, Houston preferred going younger at offensive tackle and didn't want to give Tunsil (31 in August) another lucrative extension. The Commanders were thrilled to land Tunsil to protect quarterback Jayden Daniels' blind side. Washington believes Tunsil has several years of high-quality play remaining. Advertisement When Tunsil reached out to Conerly after the draft, it was a positive sign that put some of those rumors from his time with Houston to bed. Tunsil will be in town with the team next week as the Commanders hold their mandatory minicamp before breaking for training camp, which begins next month. This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders LT Laremy Tunsil could be ideal mentor for Josh Conerly Jr.
USA Today
18 hours ago
- USA Today
PFF believes Texans have a top-three QB-WR duo in 2025 with C.J. Stroud and Nico Collins
PFF believes Texans have a top-three QB-WR duo in 2025 with C.J. Stroud and Nico Collins Nico Collins is regarded as a consensus top 10 receiver and the go-to target for the Houston Texans' passing game. C.J. Stroud might have had his slumps at times in 2024, but he's still a rising standout entering Year 3. Combined, where does the duo rank among QB-WR tandems for the 2025? According to Pro Football Focus, the back-to-back AFC South champions may feature an elite combination in the passing game that could take the league by storm this fall. PFF recently ranked every team's top QB/WR/TE duo entering the upcoming season. To no surprise, Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase led the way after leading the league in passing and receiving yards last season. At No. 2, Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown catapulted several duos following their route to winning a Super Bowl over the Kansas City Chiefs in New Orleans. At No. 3? Collins and Stroud cemented themseleves as the next great duo and could be coming for the second spot if both can stay healthy. "Stroud's 2024 campaign was largely the same as his rookie year in terms of PFF grade (80.4 PFF passing grade in 2023 compared to 77.5 in 2024), and Nico Collins has been his safety blanket," PFF's Trevor Sikkema wrote. "Collins has generated a 117.8 passer rating when targeted over the past two seasons with Stroud, which ranks sixth in the NFL." Collins, who signed a three-year extension ahead of the 2024 season, was well on his way to leading the league in receptions and receiving yards before a hamstring injury sidelined him for five games. He still managed to finish with over 1,000 receiving yards and seven touchdowns while leading Houston in every category. Part of Stroud's "sophomore slump" was caused by the lack of consistent weapons. Collins wasn't the only receiver to miss multiple games, leaving the 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year out to dry. Tank Dell missed three games and likely won't return in 2025 after undergoing multiple leg surgeries. Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs was out after eight games because of a torn ACL. Stroud looks to be the next big name and a consensus top-seven quarterback beyond this season. Collins could become an elite playmaker and find his name alongside Chase, Justin Jefferson and Brown in the future. PFF might not be sold that Stroud is ready to be considered "elite" but the publication knows Houston has something cooking in the passing game this fall.
USA Today
19 hours ago
- USA Today
Texans CB Kamari Lassiter 'hates Florida' but loves new Gator teammate CJ. Gardner-Johnson
Texans CB Kamari Lassiter 'hates Florida' but loves new Gator teammate CJ. Gardner-Johnson Kamari Lassiter hates the University of Florida, but he loves what C.J. Gardner-Johnson will bring to the Houston Texans' secondary this fall. It's expected for the second-year cornerback out of Georgia to despise his rival school, especially after the dominance in recent years from the Bulldogs in the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party in Jacksonville. Still, talent comes from the Southeastern Conference each year. Once in the league, the only colors that matter are the ones on Sundays. Lassiter knows that despite being a Gator, Gardner-Johnson adds a spark to a secondary looking to become the top unit in 2025. "He's one hell of a ball player. He really understands the game. He's played for a long time and he comes with his own energy," Lassiter said following Tuesday's OTA practice. "He just comes with his own passion and it affects the players around him. You can see, just watching this film, how his energy and how he talks and how he plays the game, it affects people around him, whether it's on the opposite side of the ball or whether it's on his side of the ball.' Acquired from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for Keynon Green and a 2026 fifth-round pick, Gardner-Johnson should provide more stability opposite second-year starter Calen Bullock. He also joins a group of veterans in a young core who understand the pathway toward postseason success, including Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon, All-Pro defensive end Danielle Hunter and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair. Last season, Houston put together a pass defense that ranked sixth in passing yards allowed (201) and 13th in scoring defense (21.9). Gardner-Johnson, who totaled 12 interceptions during two seasons with the Eagles in 2022 and 2024, should be a welcome name to a unit that finished top three in turnovers last season. While Florida and Georgia fans can't coexist, Lassiter is sure that he and Gardner-Johnson can put down the conference hatred in college if it leads to a conference title in the NFL. The Texans open the regular season against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sept. 7.
