HOUSTON – C.J. Stroud delivered the football with precision and distance, lobbing a high throw toward the sideline behind the reach of cornerback Kamari Lassiter.
The toss found its intended target: towering rookie wide receiver Jayden Higgins, who caught the touchdown pass over his shoulder with one hand.
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It was a moment that reinforced what the team and Stroud knew all along about his right throwing shoulder: that it wasn’t a cause for concern.
Stroud was dealing with tightness in his connective shoulder muscles, a mild issue that was exacerbated by his intense weightlifting regimen and throwing routine this offseason, multiple league sources told KPRC 2 in late May when the former NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year didn’t throw during organized team activities. Those sources emphasized that it wasn’t a serious issue for Stroud and predicted he would throw as soon as the Texans’ full-team minicamp, if not even earlier.
Stroud had no issues Tuesday morning, with the exception, he acknowledged, of rust accumulated during his mini-break from throwing. Because Stroud wasn’t throwing and there wasn’t a lot of information communicated publicly about his condition, there were a considerable amount of speculation and conspiracy theories. That amused Stroud, coach DeMeco Ryans and team officials. Ultimately, it was much ado about nothing.
“I mean, I was already throwing, before you guys see me out there, pretty normally,” Stroud said. “I think y’all don’t have much to talk about, so just, everything is blown up in the offseason. So, I’m fine, man, I’m really okay. ..
“It’s like how pitchers, they take relief weeks and nights off. Same thing for all throwing athletes. You’ve just got to be cautious, and those things are bound to happen. It’s not about if, it’s about when.”
Stroud wanted to be out there sooner, but appreciated that the Texans’ coaches and medical staff had his best interests as the priority, not relatively meaningless spring practice sessions.
Stroud, a former Pro Bowl selection, was determined to get back on the field after being limited to handing off to the running backs in drills the previous six practices.
“Oh, C.J. threw today, right? All right,” Ryans said. “C.J. is a competitor, and last week, he was adamant about going out and practicing. It just shows the type of person that C.J. is. For me, it’s important to make sure we’re protecting him, making sure we’re doing what’s best for C.J. and not really worried about the outside opinions or other people. Nobody knows the information about our players more than me.
“So, I’m going to make sure I always do what’s in the best interest of our players, first and foremost, with their health and wellness. That’s always on the forefront of my mind. That’s why the decision was made about C.J.. I think you guys saw him out throwing today. I think he looked pretty fine to me.”
As reported previously by KPRC 2, Stroud did not have shoulder surgery or any offseason procedures.
“I never thought too much of it,” Stroud said. “It’s not that big of a deal. And I did not get surgery or anything like that. I’m fine. It’s not as bad as people making it seem.”
Stroud made some several sharp throws, including a slick pass to tight end Cade Stover, his former Ohio State teammate.
Overall, it was a positive day for Stroud as he got back to doing what he loves: running the Texans’ offense.
“I feel great, man,” Stroud said. “I’m very grateful to be back out on the field. I’m a little rusty, made some throws, missed some throws, but I’m just very grateful to be out there with the guys and have a time to compete before we go a couple days away into camp. So, I’m very excited to be back, but just iron sharpen iron, trying to talk a little smack, but it was great.”
While a relatively stagnant offense and Stroud dipped significantly statistically last season, the Texans are confident that Stroud will take another leap in his development next season.
For a franchise with ambitions set on making a deep playoff run after losing in consecutive years in the AFC divisional round, Stroud represents a key figure in everything they’re working toward. Stroud is a year removed from being eligible for what’s shaping up to be a blockbuster contract extension. And the Texans would gladly reward Stroud as long as the team captain continues to make strides in his overall game. There’s a strong belief in Stroud in the locker room, from the coaching staff and at the top of the organization from ownership.
There was a discernible difference in the tempo of practice with Stroud back under center.
“I think C.J.’s first play, he made a big throw on a corner route,” Ryans said of Stroud’s completion to Stover. “You saw the energy, you saw the competitiveness of C.J., talking a little smack to the defense. I love the back-and-forth that happens and C.J. definitely added some energy to our practice, added some energy to the offense.
“Guys were doing well, but I think you see when you have game changers, and that’s what C.J. is, he instantly changed the vibe of the entire practice having C.J. out there and make the plays he was able to make.”
A former second overall pick and Heisman Trophy finalist from Ohio State, Stroud, 23, has won a pair of AFC wild-card round playoff wins. He has completed 66.1 percent of his throws for a combined 976 yards, four touchdowns and one interception in the playoffs. In the regular season, Stroud has a 19-13 winning percentage with 63.5 percent accuracy, 7,835 yards, 43 touchdowns, 17 interceptions and a 93.7 passer rating.
Stroud set personal records in the weight room this offseason. His build is noticeably leaner. He is moving well. He did all this with a goal of being at optimal shape for the season. Along the way, he experienced some soreness by working overtime.
“I took this offseason very serious on just working hard,” Stroud said. “I’m trying to get my body right. So, I’ve been working really hard on getting my body right, losing body fat, trying to be faster, stronger. And it went really well, but there’s always risk and reward.
“There’s always risk to working hard so, it was a great offseason. I think I got that done, but also, I wouldn’t say that was the reason why. Just a lot of everything.”
What’s different about Stroud?
“Just everything,” he said. “I mean, pocket mobility, running out the pocket, throwing the rock. Everything kind of works hand in hand, so a little bit of everything.”
The Texans took precautionary measures to ensure that Stroud was completely healthy before he was throwing again. They wanted his shoulder to calm down.
“I’m very grateful for how they approached the process,” Stroud said. “I wanted to approach it that way as well. I didn’t want to force anything, but also, they were listening and trying their best to accommodate me and what I needed. And our training staff did amazing. I’ve been working with them every day, sunup, sundown just trying to fight to get back to practice. I’m happy to be back.”
New offensive coordinator Nick Caley worked closely with prolific Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, a strong-armed gunslinger, as the tight ends coach and passing game coordinator under Sean McVay.
Now, Stroud and Caley are collaborating on the offensive game plans.
The Texans fired offensive line coach Chris Strausser and replaced him with Cole Popovich after Stroud was sacked a career-high 52 times during the regular season, the second-most in the league. Stroud was sacked eight times and hit 14 times overall in a playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
The thinking is, if the play-calling is upgraded along with the play and blocking schemes of the offensive line, Stroud will go back to the high-level trajectory his career was on as a rookie.
“They should show up and expect a lot of points, a lot of fun plays like we’ve always done,” Stroud said. “And it’s not always going to be perfect, so let’s get that out of our mind. It’s ups and downs in football.
“But the goal is to be great, but also when those times are happening, to be fluid on offense, to control what we can control. I think I’m doing well on the playbook. I’m working hard at it, and we’ll continue to do as such.”
Caley takes over an offense headlined by Stroud, who emulates Tom Brady’s even-keeled approach and is an admirer of Stafford’s style of play.
While there will be familiar territory for Stroud based on utilizing schemes similar to what the Texans ran for two seasons under Slowik as far as West Coast offensive concepts McVay learned from Mike Shanahan in Washington and some of what the Patriots utilized, this marks Caley’s first time running an NFL offense and being a play-caller.
The relationship between Stroud and Caley is off to a strong start. The bond they build now and the mutual understanding of a philosophy for how to best attack defenses will be a critical factor in the Texans’ ability to compete this season.
Stroud will have greater ownership of the offense and more autonomy to change plays and protections than he did under the direction of former offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, who was dismissed.
“That was something that I did want, and I’ve gotten that now,” Stroud said. “But that takes ownership. We’ve been able to watch a lot of Brady. And there was clips back in 2003 or 2004 when him and Josh McDaniels first started. And so, it took him time to master it.
“So, it did take time for me to master it fully. But I am buying into it and trying my best to be as great as I can at it. So yeah, but it’s something that I wanted and I’m getting.”
The relationship between Stroud and Caley is proceeding well as they get to know each other and share ideas and concepts.
“Him as a person, I buy into people,” Stroud said. I really don’t buy into system. I kind of have that thing about life. It’s the people and the relationships that kind of take things and make it rocket ship to the stars. So, just him as a person, man, he has probably the most juice I’ve ever seen in my life. I’m a very laid back, chill guy, except for when I’m in between the lines.
'I think he looked fine' #Texans coach DeMeco Ryans on C.J. Stroud back throwing @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/NQywbRgTVV
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) June 10, 2025
“He’s six in the morning, he’s up, he’s at it. So, that kind of gets me motivated. And just how he buys into his players, and he calls me a lot. I don’t always answer because he’s always yelling and stuff. But I appreciate it, though, and it’s been great. He’s implanted a lot of things he’s done in the past, which is important as well. The system is important. I love Nick, and he’s doing a great job.”
'I feel great' #Texans QB C.J. Stroud, who attributed shoulder muscle tightness to working extra hard to get 'bigger, faster, stronger' and 'lose a few pounds' to increase mobility @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/aGUrcty5ch
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) June 10, 2025
SEE ALSO:
How Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud ‘grew tremendously’ even in one of those ‘tough years’
“He can spin it, he throws the ball,” Caley said. “He’s an accurate thrower of the football. He is a natural thrower the football. He’s instinctive. He’s got the It factor. And he’s a warrior in terms of his competitiveness. I’ve admired him dating back to his college days.”
OFFENSIVE LINE UPDATE
The Texans’ offensive line had a tough time keeping up with the speed of edge rushers Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr., arguably the top defensive end tandem in the league.
The Texans lined up primarily with Cam Robinson at left tackle, Laken Tomlinson at left guard, Jake Andrews at center, Tytus Howard at right guard and Blake Fisher at right tackle.
Rookie tackle Aireontae Ersery has substituted a lot for Robinson. He had issues blocking veteran defensive end Derek Barnett, but had his moments, too.
“Ersery, he’s done a great job,” Ryans said. “The biggest thing with Ersery is getting acclimated to learning what it takes to be a pro. It’s those small things of how are you handling yourself in the meetings, taking the meetings to the field, the weight room, nutrition and all those small things that really compound upon rookies.
“I see Ersery, he’s steadily gotten better at the things off the field, of finding his routine, and also on the field, just seeing his footwork, his pad leverage, is getting better, it’s improving. So, I can’t wait to see him actually put pads on and have to block Hunter and Anderson. That’s going to be a really good challenge for him. He gets to go up against two of the best pass rushers in the NFL, so he’s only going get better by going against those guys.”
The main backups were Ersery, Jaylon Thomas, Jarrett Patterson, Ed Ingram and Juice Scruggs.
HIGGINS EXCELS
Jayden Higgins, the Texans’ top draft pick, shined against single coverage. That included his one-handed touchdown catch as he beat tight coverage from second-year cornerback Kamari Lassiter.
“It’s been really exciting to see Jayden’s growth process in the short amount of time that he’s been here,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “I’ve seen a guy who’s steadily got better every single week. You’ve seen him make even more plays. Seeing him today, this is the most plays that he’s made. In our last week of camp, to see a rookie who’s come in and showing right now that he could be an impact player for us, I think it means a lot.
“We saw it, as coaches, watching this film from the college game. It just means a lot to the entire team, the players, defensive players, other offensive players, actually seeing him thrive in practice. Because I truly believe if you take practice the right way, deliberately and you work at it, then it’ll show up in the games. So, it’s really awesome to see the work that he’s doing and the plays that he’s making.”
Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins showed his play strength as he took the football away from reserve cornerback Tremon Smith.
Wide receiver Justin Watson caught a touchdown.
Wide receiver Christian Kirk had an uncharacteristic drop.
PROGRESSION
The Texans see a lot of progress from tight end Cade Stover, who missed time as a rookie with an emergency appendectomy and a shoulder surgery.
“He’s a guy who I think has grown tremendously throughout this time,” Ryans said. “Just one small detail for him is his separation at the top of the routes. So, seeing Cade, a second year player, take the steps to get better at the one thing, his route definition at the top of his route, and seeing him make play after play, that’s what excites me about the offseason.
NOT PRACTICING
Rookie wide receiver Jaylin Noel ran on the side with trainers along with tight end Brevin Jordan, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament last September, wide receiver Braxton Berrios, who suffered the same injury last season, linebacker Henry To’oTo’o, linebacker Christian Harris (calf strain) and defensive end Denico Autry (knee) and offensive tackle Trent Brown (knee).
Not at practice; running back Joe Mixon, who is out of a walking boot, per sources, and now wearing a protective ankle brace. He is tracking toward being ready for training camp. Backup running back Dameon Pierce is also sidelined, as are safety Jimmie Ward (foot surgery) and wide receiver Tank Dell (knee surgeries).
Joining the Texans’ practices after not attending voluntary organized team activities: safety C.J. Gardner Johnson, defensive end Danielle Hunter and defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins.
The Texans’ secondary is absolutely loaded.
“It’s good having all our guys here,” Ryans said. “C.J., he hasn’t been with us. He has a way to go in picking up what the other guys have done over this time. So, it’s good having the guys back and C.J., he’s one piece.
“He’s a foundational piece to what we’re doing, but it’s going to take a collective effort of building that puzzle, putting the work together and everybody collectively coming together to make that puzzle a beautiful, finished product. He’s one piece of it. We all work together the right way, we can have a really good secondary.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com
