Houston Texans’ QB C.J. Stroud to Start Week 1 Against Ravens

Late Sunday night of the final preseason weekend offered some tantalizing news for Texans and NFL fans in general. First-year head coach DeMeco Ryans made the announcement that the club’s 2023 first-round draft pick, QB C.J. Stroud, will start Week 1.

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QB Stroud to Start for Texans in Week 1

C.J. Stroud was selected by the Houston Texans this past spring as the second overall pick in the NFL Draft. His Ohio State collegiate career impressed the franchise enough to see a bright future with him.

Houston can use all the help it can get. The good old days with Deshaun Watson under centre are in the rear-view mirror. In 2022, the Texans finished as the second-worst team in the NFL at 3-13-1. They also sported the third-worst point differential at -131 behind only divisional rival the Indianapolis Colts and the Chicago Bears.

Throughout three preseason tilts, Stroud went 11-for-18 and 89 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. It’s not a ton of info to go on, but training camp, practice, and those in-game series were enough to make Ryans and his coaching staff confident that they made in correct decision.

The Houston Texans concluded their August schedule on Sunday evening in New Orleans, defeating the Saints 17-13. Their new campaign opens away to the Baltimore Ravens, the latter having just finalized a major deal with former league MVP Lamar Jackson.