The Houston Texans’ second overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft CJ Stroud once again showcased his excellence on the field by scoring a short touchdown pass to Nico Collins on his way to leading the team to clinching a victory over the New Orleans Saints in the preseason finale for both teams on Sunday.
Following the game, Stroud received the great news that the Texans named him their starter ahead of the regular season. Meanwhile, the team’s running back Dameon Pierce claims to be not surprised as he thinks the second-year Florida absolutely deserves the spot.
Texans officially name CJ Stroud as their starting QB for NFL 2023
On Sunday night, the Texans‘ head coach DeMeco Ryans announced Stroud would be the franchise’s starting quarterback as they would face off against the Baltimore Ravens in week 1 of the regular season games on Sept. 10, marking him the fourth different Week 1 starter for the franchise in four years.
CJ7. QB1. pic.twitter.com/K60OmHOFQT
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) August 28, 2023
With this announcement, he joins the Carolina Panthers’ Bryce Young and Indianapolis Colts’ Anthony Richardson as rookies set to start right away after getting drafted. However, Ryans didn’t take this decision suddenly as he conducted an open competition with Houston’s Davis Mills throughout the summer, albeit the former Ohio State standout closed the camp session taking all of the franchise’s first-team reps at QB.
Texas RB Dameon Pierce believes CJ Stroud ‘earned’ his starting QB spot
Besides playing against New Orleans, Stroud also played in the Texans’ other two preseason games against the Miami Dolphins and the New England Patriots, recording 56 percent of passes for 73 yards and an interception throughout six series. Suffice it to say, the 21-year-old signal-caller earned the starting job after showcasing immense potential as per Pierce.
#Texans running back Dameon Pierce @IRep229 on C.J. Stroud @CJ7STROUD officially QB1 @KPRC2 'He earned it' pic.twitter.com/a80ynau0xr
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) August 28, 2023
However, it is not the first time the 23-year-old RB heaped praise on the team’s first-round Draft pick as back in June, Dameon said the young star grabbed Houston’s playbook properly despite bearing the pressure of a high draft pick.
Both athletes seem to be taking their time to adapt to the style of their first-year offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik. Meanwhile, it remains to be seen if the Texans team can come out of the embarrassment of winning just 11 games in the last three seasons.
Do you think that Stroud along with other promising stars can end the poor streak of the franchise? Please drop your thoughts in the comment box.
