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C.J. Stroud: Rookie QB's Top 10 Takes After Texans Preseason Win at Patriots

C.J. Stroud wouldn't change much about his debut in the Texans' preseason win at the Patriots, except ... "The competitor in me was like, 'Coach, let me go back out there, let me fix my wrongdoings.' But ... it is just the preseason.''

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FOXBORO, Mass. - C.J. Stroud was the starter of record in his first-ever professional game, though he wasn't much of a reason why his Houston Texans won, 20-9, at New England on Thursday in the NFL preseason opener.

Stroud, drafted second overall out of Ohio State, played the first two series and went 2 of 4 for 13 yards passing. He rushed twice for six yards and was sacked once. ... and tossed a much-discussed interception on his first series. Here, the Top 10 Takes from Stroud himself from here in Foxboro ...

1 - "Kind of a crazy opportunity to be able to go out, my first NFL stadium, my first NFL game, and just a lot of things that I've been through to just get to that moment. It was just special.''

2 - "Of course, I just wish I didn't make one mistake on one certain play, but other than that, I thought I played solid. Felt good to get hit again and just get back in the groove. I just think that's what preseason is for. It's important to just get back and put your feet back in the water. Of course I'm not super-excited how I played. ... But just get my feet in the water, learn from my mistakes and just keep growing.

3 - "Just trust my eyes (on what he saw on the interception.) ... I should have just checked it down ... But it was a great play by No. 2 (New England's Jalen Mills), by kind of just hiding out. He was kind of ducking low, so I didn't really see him. I thought I threw a good pass, but of course it wasn't. Hell of a play by No. 2, and just put that in my back pocket and learn from it.''

4 - "It's about accountability. ... I've thrown a couple interceptions and I've thrown a couple touchdowns (in camp), and you don't ever want to ride the highs or ride the lows. You want to just stay even-keeled. That's what I plan to do ...''

5 - "I have a bunch of vets in there (in the locker room) to help me every day ... and all of them are having nothing but great things to say, that I handled it well. It's not easy to come to New England as a rookie and go in there and try to execute. But they felt like I did a decent job at that, so I've just got to keep growing.''

6 - "Even though I'm a rookie, still trying to play as a vet.''

7 - "The competitor in me was like, 'Coach, let me go back out there, let me fix my wrongdoings.' But ... it is just the preseason.''

8 - "Davis (Mills, backup QB) did a great job, led them right down, and then Tank (Dell, rookie receiver) made a couple great plays that we've known Tank to do. Then Case (Keenum, backup QB) goes in there and caps it off. That's really what camp has been about, man, just uplifting each other.''

9 - "I want to be perfect, but that is what this camp and preseason is for, just to make mistakes, so when it comes to regular season, I don't make those anymore.

10 - "I'm critical on myself. I don't want to make any mistakes, but that is what being a quarterback and being a rookie quarterback is. But I hold myself to a different standard, and I know that the guys in the locker room ... know what I can do.  ... I'm super-blessed just to be able to be a Houston Texan. ... I'm just excited for the future, man. This is a young promising team, I feel, and I'm just really happy and blessed to be a part of this.''

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