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WATCH: C.J. Stroud Throws First Career NFL TD Pass With Texans

Former Ohio State Buckeyes and Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud connected with wide receiver Nico Collins for his first career touchdown pass in the NFL.

Casey Smith

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Ohio State Buckeyes fans have watched quarterback C.J. Stroud throw 85 career touchdowns across the last two seasons, but now Houston Texans fans have gotten their first taste.

Stroud stood in the pocket against the Indianapolis Colts delivered a high strike only where wide receiver Nico Collins could get it. The 8-yard touchdown pass was the first of Stroud's career in the NFL and the first of the Texans' season, as they only managed three field goals against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1.

Against the Ravens, Stroud showed poise to keep the Texans in the game but did not find the end zone. He completed 28 of his 44 pass attempts for 242 yards. He currently is 5-for-11 for 58 yards and one score against the Colts.

Stroud earned the starting quarterback job out of Texans preseason camp over veterans Davis Mills and Case Keenum. He was selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft in the spring — the highest ever for a quarterback in Ohio State program history.

He's no stranger to finding the end zone, though, finishing second on the Buckeyes' all-time touchdown passes list, trailing only J.T. Barrett who had 104 from 2014-17.

Stroud's 2021 season in which he had 44 scores through the air are the second-most in a single season, as Dwayne Haskins' 50 passing touchdowns in 2018 are the most ever in Ohio State history. His 41 touchdowns last year tied Justin Fields for the second most in a single season.

Stroud is the only player in program history to have three separate six-touchdown games.

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Casey Smith
CASEY SMITH

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