Latest news with #C.J.Stroud
USA Today
3 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
WATCH: Texans QB C.J. Stroud returns to practice, throwing during minicamp
WATCH: Texans QB C.J. Stroud returns to practice, throwing during minicamp Houston Texans fans can exhale a sigh of relief following the start of Tuesday's mandatory minicamp at the Methodist Training Center. Third-year Pro Bowl quarterback C.J. Stroud threw passes for the first time in almost a month during the opening of Tuesday's minicamp practice. He connected on several completions to Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins and rookie Jayden Higgins that caught the eye of reporters in practice. Here's a look at several throws during the early stages of team drills. Stroud was kept from throwing during the Texans' OTA practices over the last two weeks because he was dealing with 'general soreness' in his throwing shoulder, according to head coach DeMeco Ryans. Both Ryans and first-year offensive coordinator Nick Caley said that they weren't concerned with Stroud missing reps and he'd be ready to go ahead of training camp. Stroud is in a pivotal year for the Texans after leading the franchise to back-to-back division titles. With a pair of losses in the divisional round, Houston spent the offeseason trying to revamp the offense and put the franchise quarterback in a better position to succeed. While Stroud didn't throw during team drills, the fact that he was throwing at practice in general is a promising sign. Houston could elevate his reps on Wednesday's practice to close out minicamp with the media. The Texans open the regular season on the road against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sept. 7.
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Super Bowl Champion Reveals 'Red Flags' Surrounding Texans, CJ Stroud Before Season
Former Super Bowl Champion Reveals 'Red Flags' Surrounding Texans, CJ Stroud Before Season originally appeared on Athlon Sports. After a 2024 season that saw the Houston Texans win their second straight AFC South title, head coach DeMeco Ryans will look to take on mini-camp in pursuit of getting over the Divisional Round hump. Advertisement Houston decided to move on from left tackle Laremy Tunsil, trading him to the Washington Commanders for draft compensation. But they were able to add some other depth in trades for safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson and wide receiver Christian Kirk. Although the Texans have been making moves, there are concerns around the health status of quarterback C.J. Stroud. Stroud went into offseason workouts in recent weeks with shoulder soreness, and it's kept him from throwing in offseason programs. As the league continues to increase workouts, and mini-camp begins on Monday, Stroud has started to practice more, but in a limited fashion. This has raised some concerns from insiders. CJ Stroud at a Texans Shea-USA TODAY Sports Damien Woody comments on concerning injury to C.J. Stroud On NFL Live on Monday, insider Damien Woody spoke on the concerning status of Texans' quarterback C.J. Stroud. Advertisement "They haven't played a game since January, and your quarterback is not throwing in the offseason – no contact? To me that's red flags everywhere." "When you combine what you see from Houston, as far as the quarterback not throwing – they've got issues along the offensive line... This situation in Houston, offensively, worries me," Woody said. Stroud and the Texans haven't played since losing in the Divisional Round of the playoffs on Jan. 18. Nearly five months later, Stroud is either still feeling sore from that game or he came down with an injury he sustained during the offseason. Advertisement Whether the shoulder soreness is seen as a problem for head coach DeMeco Ryans or not, it will be something that will be monitored moving forward. The Texans begin the 2025 preseason on August 9 as they take on the Minnesota Vikings. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
6 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
Sports Illustrated ranks Texans QB Davis Mills bottom three among backups in 2025
Sports Illustrated ranks Texans QB Davis Mills bottom three among backups in 2025 C.J. Stroud is out for OTAs, meaning the Houston Texans are turning the offense over to Davis Mills in drills. The hope is Mills won't have to start or see action unless it's mop-up duty or in a blowout loss, but as a former starter, he's ready to go if head coach DeMeco Ryans calls upon him. But where does Mills rank among backups going into the 2025 season? How would the Texans fare if Mills were to start multiple games for the back-to-back AFC South champions this fall? Sports Illustrated recently ranked all 32 backups entering the 2025 season. Mills, who posted a 5-19-1 during his time leading the offense in 2021 and 2022, ranked near the bottom at No. 30 overall, largely due to the success of C.J. Stroud. "Mills has had zero starts since the organization drafted C.J. Stroud in 2023. But the '21 third-round pick has impressed Houston as a QB2, evident by the one-year, $5 million extension he received last year," SI's Gilberto Manzano wrote. "Mills has plenty of experience, starting 26 games in his first two NFL seasons." While this might feel low, the list is filled with former first-round picks and high-priced options. No. 1 is Atlanta Falcons passer Kirk Cousins, who was expected to be the next franchise option after inking a four-year deal in 2024. He's now potentially on the market for any team that could use a starting quarterback this offseason, especially the Pittsburgh Steelers. Daniel Jones and Jimmy Garoppolo, who are former high-paid options, rounded out the top three and very well could start for at least two NFL teams this season. Several quarterbacks could be midseason replacements on bad teams like New York Giants rookie Jaxson Dart (No. 5) also rounded out the top five. If anything Mills' ranking likely has more to do with the praise of Stroud than his on-field play. Even if it feels low, that likely means the Texans know he's meant to be nothing more than a quality No. 2 option.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
C.J. Stroud Shoulder Issue Downplayed by Texans' New OC
C.J. Stroud Shoulder Issue Downplayed by Texans' New OC originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud has been sidelined during OTAs due to a minor shoulder issue, but coach DeMeco Ryans and the Houston staff believe it is nothing to be worried about. Advertisement Ryans, when asked about Stroud's lack of involvement Wednesday, downplayed the activity level and emphasized players' routines will vary widely day to day. Despite the precautionary rest, Stroud is preparing for an expanded role in year three, gaining more responsibility to adjust plays and protections under new offensive coordinator Nick Caley. Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) rolls out to pass during the second half against the Kansas City Chiefs© Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images Caley, a first-time play-caller with roots in the Rams and Patriots systems, is installing a new offensive philosophy built on collaboration with Stroud. The quarterback is embracing this evolution, aiming to bounce back from a statistically down year after his standout rookie season. Advertisement 'Yeah, he's locked in every step of the way,' Caley said after OTAs on Friday. 'No concerns whatsoever. I know DeMeco has already hit on this. Everybody has a specific routine relative to their own routine, specific to whatever. Whether it's football, whether it's athletic training, etc., he's doing a great job and he's out here and he's working.' Stroud has been a fan of the addition of Nick Caley. 'He comes from L.A. and New England and he is going to bring some of that swag over here, so that kind of is what I'm used to,' Stroud said of Caley. 'Taking control and being a little more pre=snap, having tools to put my guys in the best position. That is something that we really didn't work on these last two years. Though not participating in drills, Caley noted that Stroud is absorbing the offense mentally, describing OTAs as a 'discovery process' for players adjusting to the new system. Advertisement 'It's really an evolving process,' Caley said. 'This is the time to put the rubber on the road, see what we can do, and evolve from there.' For a franchise eyeing a deep postseason push after back-to-back exits in the AFC Divisional Round, C.J. Stroud remains central to the Texans' long-term vision. Now just a year away from becoming eligible for what could be a massive contract extension, Stroud is viewed as the cornerstone of the team's future. As long as the team captain continues to develop, the Texans are prepared to invest heavily in him. Confidence in Stroud runs deep — from the locker room to the coaching staff, and all the way up to ownership. Related: Nico Collins Issues Four-Word Assessment of Texans' Rookie WR This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 31, 2025, where it first appeared.
Fox Sports
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Texans' C.J. Stroud poised to take ‘full ownership' of offense, become elite QB
Two days after the Texans' 2024 season ended in a divisional-round loss to the Chiefs, C.J. Stroud showed humility and self-awareness. When a reporter asked him what he had learned about himself in the past year, he admitted that it was "a lot." Anointed as an immediate superstar in 2023, when he put together one of the best rookie quarterback seasons in NFL history, Stroud saw his numbers regress across the board as a second-year pro. "In this league, being comfortable will get you got," he said in January. "And for me, I wouldn't say that I was comfortable, but I definitely had a feeling like I knew I was going to do well — and even that's dangerous. "It's cliché, but control what you can control," he added. "Control the controllables. If you can't control it, then you can't let it stress you. It's easier said than done." It was a reflective, wise response from Stroud, who's just 23. And it's why I believe we'll see a different version of Stroud in 2025, getting back on track to becoming truly elite. Here we see a young, talented franchise quarterback — with a clutch gene and an ability to throw with timing, accuracy and anticipation that is hard to teach — who has been humbled. The challenges of last season, including terrible pass protection and a big uptick in turnovers (16 in 2024, tied for fourth-most in the league, compared to nine as a rookie), could be what drives him to reach new heights in 2025. It's hard not to notice that Stroud has been much quieter this offseason in the public sphere. Perhaps that's by design. Last offseason, he traveled to China, Japan, Morocco and France for various commitments. He was at Radio Row ahead of the Super Bowl. He played in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game. He attended Michael Rubin's exclusive White Party for celebrities. He went on several podcasts. By contrast, maybe his most notable public appearance since the 2024 season ended was attending the Rockets-Warriors first-round NBA playoff series — in Houston. "He's had a great offseason. He's been here, really, since February," Texans general manager Nick Caserio said on the "Up & Adams Show" in April. "I think he's got the right mindset. He understands that we can all improve, and we can all get better, and this is what the offseason is for." A better version of Stroud in 2025 doesn't fall solely on Stroud, of course. The Texans must be better around him offensively, too. To that end, they've revamped their offensive line, though perennial Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil is among those out of the picture, traded to the Commanders in March for a package of draft picks. The Texans also have a new offensive coordinator in former Los Angeles Rams assistant Nick Caley, a first-time playcaller, and a new offensive line coach in Chris Strausser, the assistant for the unit last season. "I will be able to put my swag on it, have fun with it," Stroud said of Caley's offense. "He is all about me taking full ownership, running the show, and that's what I want." The wide receiver room has also undergone a makeover. With Tank Dell's status for 2025 uncertain due to a serious knee injury sustained in December, the Texans will have to lean heavily on star Nico Collins and rookie draft picks Jayden Higgins (second round) and Jaylin Noel (third round). But if Houston can keep Stroud upright, the passing attack has a chance to get back to the explosiveness we saw in 2023. Collins has veteran help at wideout in Christian Kirk, who was a dependable target in both Arizona and Jacksonville when healthy. Higgins and Noel both registered 1,000-yard seasons at Iowa State in 2024. "You talk about playmaking ability, Jaylin's ability to stretch the field, in the deep end part of the field. And then you have Jayden, just a big target, very similar," Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said after the draft. "I know a lot of people said [he's] very similar to Nico in what he's able to do, but you get a receiver of his stature and with his catch radius, it just opens up a lot of things for us offensively that I know all of our guys are excited about." It should be genuine for Stroud. Considering the experience he has now, he should be confident in his ability to take the next step in the 2025 season. "You've got to be able to adapt and change and upgrade," Stroud said. "Every year, the iPhone upgrades. You've got to be able to upgrade like that. So, that's something that I think we'll do. Personally, a goal of mine is to get better in things that I need to get better in. "Being a quarterback in the NFL is something that no one can teach you about. You got to experience it. Got to make mistakes, you got to fail. You have to do good, and you have to do bad. I plan to use those experiences to help others, and be a servant to one another." In that process, C.J. Stroud's ascension should be inevitable. Ben Arthur is an NFL reporter for FOX Sports. He previously worked for The Tennessean/USA TODAY Network, where he was the Titans beat writer for a year and a half. He covered the Seattle Seahawks for for three seasons (2018-20) prior to moving to Tennessee. You can follow Ben on Twitter at @benyarthur . Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
