The box score is actually prettier than the game looked as Stroud’s 50-yard touchdown pass to Nico Collins was a coverage bust. Stroud took two sacks, but was under constant pressure, particularly from Josh Hines-Allen feasting on rookie Aireontae Ersery at left tackle. One of his picks was a great read on a stare-down by Jourdan Lewis, who left his man coverage assignment to pick Stroud off. The other was tipped out of Stroud’s hand by Hines-Allen with 27 seconds left near the red zone to seal the loss. It’s hard to offer any real hope here, as this has been dismal front-to-back in all three Texans losses. Stroud is barely a superflex QB2 option at this point. He’ll try to right the ship in Week 4 against the Titans.

Stroud threw his first touchdown of the season to Nico Collins on the team’s opening possession, largely struggling to move the football for the rest of the game until retaking the lead on a 25-yard Nick Chubb run with just over two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. The struggles of a piecemeal offensive line continue to be an issue for Stroud, whose team now falls to 0-2 and immediately find themselves looking up at the 2-0 Colts in the AFC South. The Texans also continue to play with little pass-catching help behind Collins in the absence of Tank Dell and Christian Kirk, with no pass-catcher commanding more than four targets against the Buccaneers. Up next for Stroud and the Texans are the Jaguars on the road in Week 3.

He took three sacks, one of which we’d say was definitely on him, and — hold on, we can make this blurb out of last year’s blurbs — struggled behind a patchwork offensive line that allowed pressures by bushel. His interception was essentially stolen away from Jayden Higgins’ hands by Cobie Durant in the air. It was, uh, not exactly the Nick Caley masterclass we were hoping for in Week 1. Perhaps a Week 2 matchup with the Buccaneers will fix things, but it’d be hard to recommend Stroud in shallow leagues at this point.

Stroud played two series, and he ended the second drive with a touchdown pass to Nico Collins on fourth-and-goal. It’s possible Stroud will play in the preseason finale, but the Texans obviously know what they have in the third-year quarterback.