Every NFL quarterback remembers his first successful professional pass, but Texans rookie C.J. Stroud’s first completion was extra memorable.
Stroud, the No. 2 pick in this year’s draft, got the start under center for Houston’s opening game against the Ravens on Sunday. Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik wasted no time before letting Stroud show off his skills, calling a pass play on the Texans’ first offensive play. It was supposed to be a screen pass to Robert Woods, but it didn’t go according to plan.
Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith charged through the line on a blitz and leaped up to swat Stroud’s pass out of the air. Luckily, the ball landed right in arms of Stroud. Officially, that goes down in the box score as a pass and catch for Stroud, so his first NFL pass attempt was a completion to himself.
