C.J. Stroud knows he can be better.
The Texans rookie quarterback struggled Thursday in his team’s first preseason game against the Patriots, but isn’t getting bogged down by negativity.
“We had a solid plan and we kept to it. I think we had a pretty decent day offensively, except for me,” Stroud said to reporters with a laugh.
Stroud, 21, was Houston’s second-overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and is battling for the starting quarterback position against three-year veteran Davis Mills.
While the Texans won the game 20-9, Stroud will need to up his performance if he wants to top Mills, who was the squad’s starter in the 2022 season after getting drafted by Houston in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
“Got to make a play smarter and not put my defense in a bad situation, put them right in field goal range, and that’s my mistake,” Stroud said, according to ESPN.
“Even though I’m a rookie, still trying to play as a vet and play sound football and not only protect my offense but to protect the defense, as well.”
Former NFL head coach and now Fox Sports analyst Eric Mangini talked with The 33rd Team Thursday and said, based on Stroud’s preseason showing, he could benefit from being in the backup position.
“That’s a difficult sell now going into this next week because now you’ve also got Davis Mills who had a really impressive game relative to what Stroud did,” Mangini said.
“So if this is a competition, after the first round, Davis Mills is clearly in the lead.”
The Ohio State product went 2-for-4 for 13 yards with one interception against the Patriots, while Mills went 9-for-12 for 99 yards, including a first half touchdown throw to receiver Tank Dell.
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans doesn’t seem concerned with the young signal-caller’s game-action debut.
“We all have things to clean up and get better at, but I thought it was a good first outing,” Ryans said, according to ESPN.
“Good look at live action. I thought it was good for him.”
