Is it time to be concerned with Texans QB C.J. Stroud missing OTAs? OC Nick Caley isn't

USA Today

a day ago

Is it time to be concerned with Texans QB C.J. Stroud missing OTAs? OC Nick Caley isn't
Another day, another limited practice for C.J. Stroud.
Are the Houston Texans concerned with his rep count entering next week's camp? Not in the slightest.
'He's locked in every step of the way,' Texans new offensive coordinator Nick Caley said of Stroud. 'No concerns whatsoever.'
Since organized team activities began on Wednesday, Stroud has been more of an observer than a participant. The only thing he's done physically is go through warmups and toss or hand off the football on running plays. On Friday, he handed off the ball three times before taking off his No. 7 red jersey while standing next to Caley for most of the afternoon.
Caley, who is the hopeful upgrade needed to get Houston's offense back on track in 2025, said that everyone works on their own timeline, but that doesn't mean fans need to sound the alarm for concern.
'Everybody has got a specific routine, relative to their own routine," Caley said. "He's doing a great job when he's out here.'
After suffering minor setbacks in 2024, Stroud enters his third year, which could be pivotal toward his career and future earnings as the face of the Texans. He's eligible for a contract extension after this season, which could see him near a record-level contract if he returns to near-2023 form.
While not out there running drills, Caley said that Stroud is picking up the offense mentally, calling OTAs a "discovery process" for all the players getting acclimated to the changes.
'It's really an evolving process,' Caley said, adding that he's been pleased with how things are going so far. 'This is the time to put the rubber on the road, see what we can do, and evolve from there.'
The Texans return to the practice field on Tuesday for another day with the media.