Dan Graziano explains CJ Stroud getting first-team reps with Texans

Former Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud received first-team reps at Houston Texans minicamp, according to ESPN’s Dan Graziano.

Stroud, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, is in competition for the starting gig right away under first-year head coach DeMeco Ryans. Incumbent starter Davis Mills and veteran Case Keenum are the other two quarterbacks on the roster.

But all signs point towards Stroud in Week 1 of the regular season, if he keeps up at a certain pace.

“Let’s go to Houston where rookie CJ Stroud was getting first team reps with the first team offense in minicamp yesterday,” Graziano said on Get Up. “Head coach DeMeco Ryans told reports to not read too much into it. It’s Stroud’s week to get it. They’ve been rotating between him and Davis Mills. I think this will be something to watch in training camp.

“My sense of it is if Stroud can handle it, he’ll probably be the Week 1 starter. But they want to see more from him in terms of his ability to handle the offense, command things, process things, et cetera.”

This isn’t the first time Stroud received rave reviews out in Houston. Ryans said the former Buckeye was “progressing well” each day.

Texans’ quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson was also impressed with Stroud. He said that the former Buckeye is “already way, way ahead of pace” with his footwork and timing.

Stroud asked plenty of questions early in the process and picked the brain of Texans’ defensive coordinator Matt Burke. Burke raved about Stroud’s high football IQ and his never-ending thirst for knowledge.

“His deliberateness and intent to try to get better — he’s literally grabbing everybody he can on the field,” Burke said. “So, he’s been very sort of intentional about learning and just learning defense, too, like what did you call there, what was that coverage, or what did you do here? I respect that from him.”

Stroud was a Heisman finalist two years in a row. He finished his Ohio State career with 8,123 yards, 85 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and a 69.3% completion percentage.

As a member of the Class of 2020, Stroud was a four-star recruit out of Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.) High, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 4 overall prospect in the state, the No. 3 quarterback in the class and the No. 39 overall prospect in the class.