Latest news with #CJStroud
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Stroud shares rookie receivers Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel 'came in with a great mindset'
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud says rookie wide receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel have "came in with a great mindset" during training camp.
Al Arabiya
23-07-2025
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
Texans Open Camp With New Offensive Coordinator, Revamped Receiver Group
As quarterback C.J. Stroud returns to lead the Houston Texans for a third season, his offense has a much different look than it did a year ago. Top receiver Nico Collins and leading rusher Joe Mixon are back. But the Texans have a new offensive coordinator in Nick Caley after Bobby Slowik was fired, and longtime left tackle Laremy Tunsil was traded to the Commanders in the offseason. In other moves on offense, Houston traded for receiver Christian Kirk, signed receiver Justin Watson, and drafted Iowa State receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel before signing running back Nick Chubb last month. Chubb should get a lot of work early in camp, with Mixon opening camp on the non-football injury list after missing minicamp with an ankle injury. 'Every year you're looking to add more and more to your team,' coach DeMeco Ryans said Wednesday as the Texans opened camp. 'I'm excited about the receivers that we've added. The young guys Noel, Higgins also with Kirk, Watson all the guys we've added at those spots will definitely enhance our offense giving us more options for where the football can go and that will help our quarterback a lot.' The Texans needed depth at receiver after veterans Stefon Diggs and Robert Woods left in free agency and with Tank Dell out indefinitely recovering from a gruesome knee injury sustained in December. Even though it's early, Stroud has already been impressed by his rookie receivers. Higgins, who has been compared to Collins, had 87 receptions for 1183 yards and nine touchdowns last season for the Cyclones, and Noel added 80 catches for 1194 yards and eight scores. 'They've came in with a great mindset,' Stroud said. 'They are really mature guys. Guys who love to work consistently here at the building or working with me in the offseason. So I'm really excited to see those guys' growth and see them take a step forward each and every day. Not going to be perfect for them, but I think they're going to make a lot of plays.' While the Texans addressed their need at receiver, their most pressing issue is improving the offensive line after Stroud was sacked 52 times last season, which ranked second in the NFL. Though Tunsil was penalty-prone, he was Houston's most consistent lineman, and replacing him won't be easy. Second-round pick Aireontae Ersery could be Houston's left tackle of the future after starting 38 games at the position over three seasons at Minnesota. But veteran Cam Robinson will likely open the season at left tackle while Ersery adjusts to the NFL. Ryans knows everyone is concerned about the offensive line after Stroud was sacked eight times in a 23-14 loss to the Chiefs in the divisional round of the playoffs last season. 'I know I'm going to get a ton of questions about the offensive line and what it looks like,' Ryans said. 'You guys will see what it looks like when we line up across from another team and we get a chance to actually compete in live reps. Me talking to you is probably not going to convince anybody here … we'll see what it looks like man. I'm excited about the group because I know they'll be better.' Stroud is also looking to take another step after leading the Texans to the postseason in each of his first two seasons. Stroud threw for 3727 yards with 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 17 games last season after winning AP Offensive Rookie of the Year in his debut when he had 4108 yards passing with 23 TD passes and just five interceptions in 15 games. He was asked what the biggest lesson he learned last year was that he believes will help him this season. 'Just trust the process,' he said. 'It's not about what people think, who people think you are, what they think you are, or when they think you should do it. It's about your process and how you're going to go about it. If God is happy, your teammates are happy, and yourself, then you're good.'
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Texans open camp with new offensive coordinator, revamped receiver group
HOUSTON (AP) — As quarterback C.J. Stroud returns to lead the Houston Texans for a third season, his offense has a much different look than it did a year ago. Top receiver Nico Collins and leading rusher Joe Mixon are back. But the Texans have a new offensive coordinator in Nick Caley after Bobby Slowik was fired and longtime left tackle Laremy Tunsil was traded to the Commanders in the offseason. In other moves on offense, Houston traded for receiver Christian Kirk, signed receiver Justin Watson and drafted Iowa State receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel before signing running back Nick Chubb last month. Chubb should get a lot of work early in camp with Mixon opening camp on the non-football injury list after missing minicamp with an ankle injury. 'Every year you're looking to add more and more to your team,' coach DeMeco Ryans said Wednesday as the Texans opened camp. 'I'm excited about the receivers that we've added. The young guys, Noel, Higgins, also with Kirk, Watson, all the guys we've added at those spots will definitely enhance our offense, giving us more options for where the football can go, and that will help our quarterback a lot.' The Texans needed depth at receiver after veterans Stefon Diggs and Robert Woods left in free agency and with Tank Dell out indefinitely recovering from a gruesome knee injury sustained in December. Even though it's early, Stroud has already been impressed by his rookie receivers. Higgins, who has been compared to Collins, had 87 receptions for 1,183 yards and nine touchdowns last season for the Cyclones and Noel added 80 catches for 1,194 yards and eight scores. 'They've came in with a great mindset,' Stroud said. 'They are really mature guys. Guys who love to work, consistently, here at the building or working with me in the offseason. So, I'm really excited to see those guys' growth and see them take a step forward each and every day. Not going to be perfect for them, but I think they're going to make a lot of plays.' While the Texans addressed their need at receiver, their most pressing issue is improving the offensive line after Stroud was sacked 52 times last season, which ranked second in the NFL. Though Tunsil was penalty-prone he was Houston's most consistent lineman and replacing him won't be easy. Second-round pick Aireontae Ersery could be Houston's left tackle of the future after starting 38 games at the position over three seasons at Minnesota. But veteran Cam Robinson will likely open the season at left tackle while Ersery adjusts to the NFL. Ryans knows everyone is concerned about the offensive line after Stroud was sacked eight times in a 23-14 loss to the Chiefs in the divisional round of the playoffs last season. 'I know I'm going to get a ton of questions about the offensive line and what it looks like,' Ryans said. 'You guys will see what it looks like when we line up across from another team and we get a chance to actually compete in live reps. Me talking to you is probably not going to convince anybody here … we'll see what it looks like, man. I'm excited about the group because I know they'll be better.' Stroud is also looking to take another step after leading the Texans to the postseason in each of his first two seasons. Stroud threw for 3,727 yards with 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 17 games last season after winning AP Offensive Rookie of the Year in his debut when he had 4,108 yards passing with 23 TD passes and just five interceptions in 15 games. He was asked what the biggest lesson he learned last year was that he believes will help him this season. 'Just trust the process,' he said. 'It's not about what people think, who people think you are, what they think you are or when they think you should do it. It's about your process and how you're going to go about it. If God is happy, your teammates are happy and yourself, then you're good.' ___ AP NFL:
Associated Press
23-07-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Texans open camp with new offensive coordinator, revamped receiver group
HOUSTON (AP) — As quarterback C.J. Stroud returns to lead the Houston Texans for a third season, his offense has a much different look than it did a year ago. Top receiver Nico Collins and leading rusher Joe Mixon are back. But the Texans have a new offensive coordinator in Nick Caley after Bobby Slowik was fired and longtime left tackle Laremy Tunsil was traded to the Commanders in the offseason. In other moves on offense, Houston traded for receiver Christian Kirk, signed receiver Justin Watson and drafted Iowa State receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel before signing running back Nick Chubb last month. Chubb should get a lot of work early in camp with Mixon opening camp on the non-football injury list after missing minicamp with an ankle injury. 'Every year you're looking to add more and more to your team,' coach DeMeco Ryans said Wednesday as the Texans opened camp. 'I'm excited about the receivers that we've added. The young guys, Noel, Higgins, also with Kirk, Watson, all the guys we've added at those spots will definitely enhance our offense, giving us more options for where the football can go, and that will help our quarterback a lot.' The Texans needed depth at receiver after veterans Stefon Diggs and Robert Woods left in free agency and with Tank Dell out indefinitely recovering from a gruesome knee injury sustained in December. Even though it's early, Stroud has already been impressed by his rookie receivers. Higgins, who has been compared to Collins, had 87 receptions for 1,183 yards and nine touchdowns last season for the Cyclones and Noel added 80 catches for 1,194 yards and eight scores. 'They've came in with a great mindset,' Stroud said. 'They are really mature guys. Guys who love to work, consistently, here at the building or working with me in the offseason. So, I'm really excited to see those guys' growth and see them take a step forward each and every day. Not going to be perfect for them, but I think they're going to make a lot of plays.' While the Texans addressed their need at receiver, their most pressing issue is improving the offensive line after Stroud was sacked 52 times last season, which ranked second in the NFL. Though Tunsil was penalty-prone he was Houston's most consistent lineman and replacing him won't be easy. Second-round pick Aireontae Ersery could be Houston's left tackle of the future after starting 38 games at the position over three seasons at Minnesota. But veteran Cam Robinson will likely open the season at left tackle while Ersery adjusts to the NFL. Ryans knows everyone is concerned about the offensive line after Stroud was sacked eight times in a 23-14 loss to the Chiefs in the divisional round of the playoffs last season. 'I know I'm going to get a ton of questions about the offensive line and what it looks like,' Ryans said. 'You guys will see what it looks like when we line up across from another team and we get a chance to actually compete in live reps. Me talking to you is probably not going to convince anybody here … we'll see what it looks like, man. I'm excited about the group because I know they'll be better.' Stroud is also looking to take another step after leading the Texans to the postseason in each of his first two seasons. Stroud threw for 3,727 yards with 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 17 games last season after winning AP Offensive Rookie of the Year in his debut when he had 4,108 yards passing with 23 TD passes and just five interceptions in 15 games. He was asked what the biggest lesson he learned last year was that he believes will help him this season. 'Just trust the process,' he said. 'It's not about what people think, who people think you are, what they think you are or when they think you should do it. It's about your process and how you're going to go about it. If God is happy, your teammates are happy and yourself, then you're good.' ___ AP NFL:
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Texans' Nico Collins lands in top 10 WRs by NFL coaches and executives
Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins proved to be more than a one-hit wonder from 2023 with his 1,000-yard campaign in 2024. He was on his way to leading the NFL in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns before a hamstring injury sidelined him for five games. That didn't stop executives and general managers from placing Collins among the top 10 playmaking pass-catchers entering 2025. ESPN polled talent evaluators from around the league on the top 10 wide receivers, having Collins take the spot at No. 8. Even with another setback because of injury, his potential outweighs the lack of reps. "The rare ability to be a legitimate No. 1," an NFL personnel director said. "Good balance, skill set, size, speed, agility for his size, very good hands, competes." Even after missing five games, Collins finished with 68 receptions, 1,006 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. He was on pace to total more than 1,400 yards, which would have finished third in the NFL. Since his hot start in 2023, Collins has been better than expected. Like Tampa Bay's Chris Godwin, the former third-round pick has blossomed into a legit No. 1 force in the passing attack and a security blanket for C.J. Stroud. His average of 85.3 receiving yards per game over the past two seasons has also been among the top five rankings in the NFL. "He was once a jump ball guy, but once he started taking quick throws for big gains with his size and athleticism, that changed his game," an NFL offensive coach said. The Texans return for the start of training camp next Wednesday at 9 a.m. This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans' Nico Collins lands in top 10 WRs by NFL coaches and executives
