Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans is confident that quarterback C.J. Stroud can improve in Year 2 of running Nick Caley's offense.
"With C.J. and Nick, I've seen both guys communicating much better," Ryans said, according to ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime. "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."
He added, "C.J. has ideas and thoughts on different plays and formations, different things that he likes. We try to do our best to implement those things as well. The coach-player relationship is definitely headed in the right direction. They're growing much closer."
The Texans hired Caley as their offensive coordinator in February 2025 after firing Bobby Slowik. Prior to joining Houston, Caley spent two seasons with the Los Angeles Rams working under Sean McVay as tight ends coach and pass game coordinator.
Houston's offense posted mediocre numbers in Caley's first year as an NFL play-caller, ranking 23rd in EPA/play and offensive touchdowns, according to TruMedia.
Stroud, who's entering his fourth campaign as the Texans' starting signal-caller, completed 64.5% of his throws for 3,041 yards with 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2025. He played in 14 regular-season games, missing three contests midseason due to a concussion.
The 24-year-old struggled in the playoffs, throwing two touchdowns with seven turnovers. In Houston's divisional round loss to the New England Patriots, he completed just 42.6% of his throws and recorded four interceptions.
In 2023, Stroud thrived in his first year in the league, winning Offensive Rookie of the Year while leading Houston to an AFC South crown. However, he's ranked 23rd in passer rating and 25th in success rate among 33 qualifying quarterbacks over the last two seasons.
The former second overall pick has two years remaining on his contract and is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in 2027. There's little momentum toward the two sides reaching an extension this offseason, and negotiations are currently on pause, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.
"I watched a lot of (film) to try to fix some things," Stroud said. "I tried to introduce some things (to Caley) that I'm used to, that I've done in my past that I like to do so we can do that a little more.
"I think we're both growing. We're creating a better relationship and growing as an offense and just trying to make it the offense for the 2026-27 Texans and doing things that everybody is good at and doing things that we've done in the past. So, we're growing in that area."
The Texans will report to training camp July 28 and face off against the Buffalo Bills in Week 1 on Sept. 13.
