Texans QB C.J. Stroud highlights one area of improvement since Week 1

C.J. Stroud is hardly a finished product.

When the Houston Texans quarterback was asked where he has seen the most improvement since Opening Day, the rookie could only list off elements of the offense he still needed to refine.

“Honestly, there’s so many things, I don’t know if I can just boil it down to one,” said Stroud. “It’s been a battle every week of just not only trying to get the footwork down and trying to get this offense better, in-tune with my mind, just trying to get it down pat to where I can just remember it and go out and play fast.”

Ultimately, Stroud summarized as “just being more of a pro as a quarterback,” but a better phrase would be ball distribution.

Said Stroud: “Just being smarter with the ball, smarter in not taking hits. Just getting down, getting the ball out, taking the completions.”

Despite being a rookie, Stroud is tied for the 12th-lowest sack percentage in the NFL at 6.0. The No. 2 overall pick is also the league leader in fewest interceptions among since-Week 1 starters with one.

What has helped Stroud is to think of himself as a veteran.

“I always say, that was probably the biggest step I’ve taken from college to OTAs to training camp to now is just being a better pro when it comes to quarterback play and just trying to be veteran-minded of getting my guys in the right position to make plays and things like that,” said Stroud.

The Texans will need another veteran-minded performance from Stroud as they take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday at 12:00 p.m. Central Time at NRG Stadium.