Louis Riddick sets the record straight on CJ Stroud's Texans debut

UPON FURTHER REVIEW

Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud made his NFL debut on Thursday night against the New England Patriots in Foxborough.

Houston won the game 20-9, but the big story of the night was all about how Stroud looked in the two series he played in his first preseason game.

Louis Riddick discusses the interception Stroud threw on 3rd and long, and shares his thoughts on what he learned about the Texans rookie in his first NFL action.

A lot of people are going to make a big deal about the sack and the pick, but it's hard to come to any significant conclusions based on just four throws.

Harry Douglas also makes a good point when mentioned that Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik also made his debut as an OC. If he had it to do over again, Slowik probably should have told Stroud to take the check down and not force anything on 3 and 21.

Plus, Douglas adds that the first year in the Shanahan system is a “juggernaut” for any quarterback. Veteran or rookie.

Be sure to watch the video above as Louis Riddick and the First Take crew share their takeaways from Stroud's performance.

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The Angels beat the Astros, 3-0. Composite Getty Image.

José Soriano and two relievers combined for a two-hitter and Oswald Peraza hit his first home run since a trade from the Yankees to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.

Soriano (10-9) allowed one hit and struck out eight in seven innings. Luis García allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save.

There were two outs in the fifth when Peraza connected off Hunter Brown (10-7) into the bullpen in right-center field to put the Angels up 1-0. His homer comes after his two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday helped Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory that snapped a three-game skid.

Yoan Moncada walked to start the eighth and scored on Mike Trout’s double that bounced off the wall in center field to make it 2-0. Taylor Ward walked before Luis Rengifo reached and Trout scored on an error by Lance McCullers Jr. when the pitcher overthrew first base.

Yordan Alvarez singled with no outs in the first and Soriano walked a batter in the second and sixth innings. The Astros didn’t get another hit until Ramón Urías doubled with one out in the eighth inning. Los Angeles outfielder Taylor Ward was injured trying to make a catch on that hit when he crashed face-first into the metal scoreboard in left field.

He was carted off the field holding a towel to the right side of his face. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance where interim manager Ray Montgomery said he would receive stitches to close the cut and be evaluated.

Brown allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings. McCullers Jr. allowed three hits and two runs in his first relief appearance since 2018.

Key moment

The home run by Peraza.

Key stat

It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.

Up next

LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-9, 3.68 ERA) will start for Los Angeles in the series finale Monday against RHP Luis Garcia, who’ll make his return after sitting out since May 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery.

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