(SportsRadio 610) - The first time C.J. Stroud played against another rookie quarterback who was a close friend, the Texans lost 31-20 to Indianapolis, leaving them with an 0-2 start.
Anthony Richardson, the fourth overall pick in the draft, ran for two touchdowns and completed 6-of-10 for 56 yards before leaving the game in the second quarter with a shoulder injury.
On Sunday at Carolina, Stroud is going against another rookie quarterback who also is a close friend -- Bryce Young, the first overall pick in the draft. Stroud and Young are California natives who’ve been friends since high school.
“That’s my brother, someone I have a lot of respect for,” Stroud said Wednesday. “(I’ve) known him since middle school, got really close, probably after high school. Our parents are close. Our moms are really close. (I’m) always rooting for him (and) I know he’s always rooting for me.”
Stroud doesn’t have fond memories of the first time his team played against Young’s team.
“I don’t think we were friends at the time, but we played against each other in the seventh or eighth grade,” he said. “Bryce played for the IE Ducks. I played for the Pomona Valley Steelers. I remember we played in the rain. They killed us. He had a really good game. I played terrible.”
During the season, Stroud and Young stay in touch to see how the other’s doing. During the offseason, they train together.
“It’s cool to see that somebody’s journey has gone from high school to college now into the league,” Stroud said. “It’s a blessing to have a brother like that to go through the same type of struggle, same type of pressures. We talk a lot about that stuff in the offseason. It’s a blessing to have someone like that in my life.”
Stroud is 6-3 and Young 5-10. Size doesn’t inhibit Young when they’re on the basketball court.
“We train with the same people in the offseason (and) we hoop all the time,” Stroud said. “Our trainers tell us not to guard each other because we get too competitive. It gets crazy. He’ll get me one day (and) I’ll get him the next.
“He can hoop, for sure. He’s super-quick. You can see it on the field, too. He might be small, but he’s pretty strong. He’s low to the ground. He has a good jump shot. He knows how to create space. He’s a sneaky fouler. He’ll throw your jump shot off.”
More one-on-ones on the basketball court will have to wait until their second offseason in the NFL. Now they’re fixated on football.
The Texans are 3-3, including 3-1 in their last four games. Stroud has 1,600 yards, nine touchdowns and one interception. Stroud’s completion percentage is 59.6, and he averages 7.79 yards per attempt. He’s been sacked 13 times, and his rating is 96.4.
The Panthers are 0-6, the only winless team in the NFL. In five games, Young has 967 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions. Young’s completion percentage is 63.2, and his average yards per attempt is 5.31. He’s been sacked 16 times, and his rating is 78.7.
Stroud gets defensive when the subject is criticism of Young’s early struggles.
“Watching film of every game of his, I don’t think in any way (that) he’s playing bad,” Stroud said. “That’s what people think if you’re not winning or you have a turnover here or there.
“Bryce is playing some good football. I think he’ll continue to be great because he has that swagger and mentality and that type of playing style. Of course, there’s always things you can clean up. I can clean up a lot of things. I’m not here to be his coach – I’m here to support.”
When DeMeco Ryans was hired in January, he watched a lot of tape of quarterback prospects who’d be available in the draft, especially Young, Stroud and Richardson. With the second selection, Ryans knew the Texans could get one of them.
Now he’s watching a lot of Panthers’ tape because he’ll make the defensive calls against Young.
“You see the same guy from college,” Ryans said about Young at Alabama. “You see a guy who’s very smart going through his progressions, making the proper reads (and) proper decisions with the football.
“You see the accuracy that jumps off the tape, and he’s very decisive with where he goes with the ball – when it’s zone coverage (or) man coverage, it really doesn’t matter.”
Richardson hurt the Texans running but not passing before he was replaced by veteran Gardner Minshew. The Texans don’t want Young to hurt them passing, either.
“All rookie quarterbacks are different,” Ryans said. “Everybody has strengths (and) they have their weaknesses. Bryce has done a good job with what he’s been given. He’s made some really nice plays. We’ll have our hands full, for sure.”
The Panthers know they’ll have their hands full with Stroud, as well. Stroud is off to a better start than most rookie quarterbacks have enjoyed. He’s getting excellent coaching from offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson. Case Keenum has become a mentor, too.
“Why C.J. has success – I think it starts with his mental preparation, which is off the charts,” Ryans said. “He’s dedicated to the process of studying and making sure he’s prepared when he goes into games. He’s also had success because the guys around him have jelled. They play well together.”
The Texans are trying to elevate their record to 4-3 for the first time since 2019, the last season they won the AFC South. Stroud said the positive vibe at NRG Stadium is contagious.
“It’s every day – you can feel it in the locker room,” he said.
“Every day, guys want to be here. We want to work hard and do extra because we know what we have in the tank. We know we haven’t put a full game together yet.
“We feel like we’re right in the (division) race, and we can do it (but) we’ve got a lot of work to do. We want to keep that momentum rolling and keep that swagger we’re playing with.”
(John McClain can be heard Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday on Sports Radio 610 and Monday, Thursday and Sunday on Texans Radio, also on Sports Radio 610. He writes five columns a week and does three Houtopia Football Podcasts for SportsRadio610.com.