We all know now that Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is one of the most remarkable rookies ever to play his position in professional football. But Stroud’s NFL debut had its rocky moments. Let’s take you back to Week 1 of the 2023 season, when Stroud had to face the Baltimore Ravens’ multi-faceted defense in Baltimore.
The Ravens won, 25-9, and Stroud completed 28 of 44 passes for 242 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 78.0. Stroud took five sacks. He was pressured on 25 of his 54 dropbacks, completing 11 of 17 passes for 78 yards. He attempted two passes of 20 or more air yards, completing neither. And play-action wasn’t a strength at that point, as Stroud completed four of eight play-action passes for… 26 yards.
