CJ Stroud shaky in preseason debut, throws in INT vs. Patriots

CJ Stroud wouldn't change much about stepping onto the field for the first time against an NFL opponent.

[{"selector":"#anim-aa48748a-c0b2-4116-93ed-5e662631dbe8 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.249999886225726%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6b9a6365-d23b-4afe-b9b2-9ee16af0f9f9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fcae7e55-e7a8-434d-a3da-f4f3fbfea350","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 149.31776%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Stroud's debut was short and at times shaky.

[{"selector":"#anim-0f48746a-945c-47d8-97a4-e500321ea2da [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.26831043321183%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c9e7424a-96ad-43d7-9ef1-c1986c22237d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f400b1c6-04aa-4ff8-89ce-197474175c83","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 205.65307%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Davis Mills threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to rookie Tank Dale.

[{"selector":"#anim-91fd3ef4-e36b-4b5d-a2a0-d40cf1774b06 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.11874990363319%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-757f9f84-d313-4524-a0ea-4b694c8126c7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2c936eef-c1da-41ec-b789-dffdc2fb0f9a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 171.69317%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The Houston Texans defeated the New England Patriots 20-9 in the teams' preseason opener on Thursday night.

[{"selector":"#anim-9dc6e922-a452-4a97-911c-864865767b50 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.16964276108486%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ef124f6d-6043-4044-80c5-d245e3964be8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4b7f0d06-afa3-44b4-9c08-fe0d8fd94226","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 150.19494%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Stroud, the second overall pick from Ohio State, played the first two series.

[{"selector":"#anim-13c0f2a4-d622-4aa9-935b-55dddb21c03c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.2656509714626%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2f1e63d2-30cc-4e04-9dca-a824b2b82303","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-99540869-21a1-4970-bdf0-eb5aa37f273b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.50271%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Stroud said that "I am critical of myself."

[{"selector":"#anim-c6fc7fb7-2532-4469-84a0-fd5b32791a65 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.179687404002955%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-befae411-98ef-4dff-95fb-0eb182c7c209","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d32ca15d-444f-4402-9a17-4651eb349f11","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 200.38988%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The Patriots gave most of their projected starters the night off, including quarterback Mack Jones.

[{"selector":"#anim-1dc6566c-9f20-4bce-be92-8079fb5e43cc [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.235351448636845%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cdf5e32a-d773-49fb-8ea9-1776172386f9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7b96ea51-a0eb-4a31-99e9-ad420447c0de","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 150.19494%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Stroud appeared to be competing with Mills to become Houston's starter.

[{"selector":"#anim-a2335ca3-a36f-4663-9470-781b569dab65 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.17499990397451%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-37a727c1-c891-4383-8c8b-b5428595eb9f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-76f7a795-ad08-4f4d-a6bf-4c200697d4fa","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 168.12171%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

[{"selector":"#anim-1ee7e9b8-8372-4d41-b329-e779ba976fb2 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.11874990363319%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0cd4e264-52ec-41fb-b772-4b85c13025d0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b1a61018-9d46-4d1f-b44c-5c94bd0bfb95","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 161.93851%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]