- May 21, 2026
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Quarterback C.J. Stroud's first season playing for offensive coordinator Nick Caley ended with a pair of poor performances in the playoffs, but the Texans ended their offseason program feeling positive about how things are developing on offense.
Head coach DeMeco Ryans pointed to the way the two men have interacted this offseason as the biggest reason to feel bullish about what they'll be able to accomplish this time around.
"With C.J. and Nick, I've seen both guys communicating much better," Ryans said, via DJ Bien-Amie of ESPN.com. "It's Year 2 of a system. When it's Year 2, you understand we're not going through the install for the first time. So, there is some recall from what we've done in the past that allows us to speed up what we're doing in Year 2."
In addition to working with Stroud for the first time, last season also marked Caley's first time calling plays. Ryans said that he expects the improved communication to result in Stroud having more input into this year's play calls.
"C.J. has ideas and thoughts on different plays and formations, different things that he likes," Ryans said. "We try to do our best to implement those things, as well. It's just the coach-player relationship is definitely headed in the right direction. They're growing much closer."
The Texans have held off on signing Stroud to the kind of multi-year deal they reached with fellow 2023 first-rounder Will Anderson. If the offseason work pays off come the fall, that deal will be likelier to happen before the quarterback's fifth season in Houston.
Head coach DeMeco Ryans pointed to the way the two men have interacted this offseason as the biggest reason to feel bullish about what they'll be able to accomplish this time around.
"With C.J. and Nick, I've seen both guys communicating much better," Ryans said, via DJ Bien-Amie of ESPN.com. "It's Year 2 of a system. When it's Year 2, you understand we're not going through the install for the first time. So, there is some recall from what we've done in the past that allows us to speed up what we're doing in Year 2."
In addition to working with Stroud for the first time, last season also marked Caley's first time calling plays. Ryans said that he expects the improved communication to result in Stroud having more input into this year's play calls.
"C.J. has ideas and thoughts on different plays and formations, different things that he likes," Ryans said. "We try to do our best to implement those things, as well. It's just the coach-player relationship is definitely headed in the right direction. They're growing much closer."
The Texans have held off on signing Stroud to the kind of multi-year deal they reached with fellow 2023 first-rounder Will Anderson. If the offseason work pays off come the fall, that deal will be likelier to happen before the quarterback's fifth season in Houston.