Quarterback C.J. Stroud completed threw for 280 yards and two touchdowns as the Houston Texans found their first victory of the year 37-17 over the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday afternoon at EverBank Field.
The rookie completed 20 passes on 30 attempts and avoided being sacked. The No. 2 overall pick posted a 118.8 passer rating.
Buy Texans TicketsFellow Texans (1-2) rookie Tank Dell was the biggest beneficiary of Stroud’s work as the third-round receiver caught five passes for 145 yards and a touchdown.
Jaguars (1-2) quarterback Trevor Lawrence went 27-of-40 for 279 yards with a touchdown and an interception with an 85.3 passer rating. Lawrence was spelled late in the fourth quarter by backup C.J. Beathard.
Texans special teams
Rookie defensive end Will Anderson blocked a 51-yard field goal attempt from Brandon McManus with 12:02 to go in the second quarter. The Texans turned around and drove 41 yards in seven plays with Stroud hitting tight end Brevin Jordan for a 4-yard score to go up 14-0 with 7:30 until halftime.
Houston’s transition unit was instrumental yet again. With 4:39 to go in the third quarter, fullback Andrew Beck returned a muffed kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown to push the Texans 24-10.
Return of Blake Cashman
The fifth-year linebacker played 22 special teams snaps in Week 2, but had a more expanded role on defense with linebacker Denzel Perryman out with a hand/wrist injury. Cashman generated five combined tackles and had two pass breakups, an interception, and a fumble recovery.
The rest of the defense seemed to flow off of Cashman’s work as rookie linebacker Henry To’oTo’o tied cornerback Shaquill Griffin for the team-high in tackles with 10.
What's next?
The Texans go home to host the Pittsburgh Steelers where Houston will induct former defensive end J.J. Watt into the Ring of Honor.
Jacksonville travels to London to play the Atlanta Falcons in the season’s first game of the NFL International Series at Wembley Stadium.
