Loss overshadows rookie QB Stroud's historic day for Texans - ESPN - Houston Texans Blog- ESPN
ESPN HOUSTON -- After the Houston Texans' 31-20 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, the mood in the Texans' locker room was bittersweet.
The Texans had just fallen to 0-2, but their rookie quarterback, C.J. Stroud, had just come off a historic day.
Stroud finished with 384 yards passing (going 30-of-47), the first two touchdown passes of his career and no interceptions -- all coming behind a Texans' offensive line that was missing four starters.
"Man, he's special," right guard Shaq Mason told ESPN.
Stroud's 384 yards were second-most by a player age 21 or younger since the merger (1970), trailing only Matthew Stafford (422 yards) in 2009, according to ESPN Stats & Information, and it was the highest mark of any player in Week 2. Stroud also had the second-most passing yards by a Texans rookie in franchise history, behind only Deshaun Watson (402 yards) in 2017.
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"There's positives from C.J.'s game," Mason said. "He has what it takes to take that leap and be a great QB in this league."
