C.J. Stroud Playing 'Lights Out' After Learning Moments In OTAs

Houston Texans safety Jimmie Ward told an interesting story Monday of when he noticed C.J. Stroud's improvement and why it happened.

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud predicates himself on hard work and dedication to achieve his goals. 

It's what got him to be one of the top high-school prospects in the country, one of the greatest quarterbacks ever at Ohio State and a No. 2 overall draft pick. That hard work in training camp and OTAs helped get him to the level of success he's had in the first three weeks of the season.

Texans safety Jimmie Ward said he wasn't sure how Stroud would perform in a game because he held on to the ball and wasn't getting hit. However, Ward noticed Stroud continually worked on his timing in training camp due to the play clock that head coach DeMeco Ryans installed, which helped instill into the rookie quarterback just how fast he needs to process pre-snap formations and in-play coverages.

"Everything is timing and him working on his timing," Ward said. "When he sees D-ends or a blitz coming to him trying to get the ball out, that's just him working on his game. I feel like it paid off for him. In his first three games, he's out there playing lights out. It's good to see."

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Stroud picked up his first win in the NFL Sunday behind a 280-yard, two-touchdown performance while completing 67 percent of his passes — a far cry from the quarterback who threw an interception on his second pass attempt in the preseason.

Stroud has grown at reading coverages and hitting timing routes with his receivers while taking care of the football, setting an NFL record as his 121 pass attempts are the most to begin a career without throwing an interception.

His leadership and command of the team have won over the locker room to where the veterans feed off the youngster's success.

"When you see your quarterback playing lights out as a rookie, that feeds everybody," Ward said. "Everybody needs that type of energy, and it's contagious."

Stroud has been thrust into the spotlight as the face of the Texans' franchise and the entire Houston metropolitan area. That's a type of pressure he said he enjoys, but it's reasonable that a kid who is eight days away from his 22nd birthday might feel a little overwhelmed at times.

Ward, a 10-year veteran, said he told Stroud that he would try and take as much stuff off "your plate" as he could.

"'I'm going to fight for you, bro. Trust me. I'm going to help you out,'" Ward told Stroud. "'I just want you to go out there and play, just do your thing. It's backyard football. Be a playmaker. You've been doing it your whole life.'"

Ward and Stroud have both fought for each other, like the entire Texans team, as it feels better days are ahead in Houston.