FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — C.J. Stroud wouldn't change much about stepping on the field for the first time against an NFL opponent.
Except for one play.
Stroud had a short and at times shaky debut that included an interception, Davis Mills threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to rookie Tank Dell and the Houston Texans beat the New England Patriots 20-9 in the teams' preseason opener Thursday night.
Stroud, drafted second overall out of Ohio State, played the first two series and went 2 of 4 for 13 yards. He rushed twice for 6 yards and was sacked once.