PITTSBURG – CJ Stroud threw a touchdown pass to Tank Dell in his preseason debut to help the Houston Texans beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 20-12 on Friday night.
Out of last week’s Hall of Fame game against Chicago, Stroud completed 2 of 4 passes for 41 yards.
Stroud, the second overall pick in 2023, threw for 4,108 yards and 23 touchdowns last season, leading the Texans to the AFC South championship and victory over Cleveland in the wild-card round.
After a three-and-out, Stroud led the Texans to a touchdown on a three-play series. Stroud threw a pass to Dell, who dodged two missed tackles for a 34-yard score. Dell had 708 receiving yards before a leg injury late last season. He was also injured in the offseason in a shooting at a Florida restaurant.
Justin Fields played three series for Pittsburgh, finishing 5 of 6 for 67 yards. He was sacked twice and fumbled two trades.
Pittsburgh crossed midfield twice with Fields at center, but the drives stalled because of a fumbled snap and a sack.
Pittsburgh acquired Fields — the 11th overall pick in 2021 — from Chicago for a conditional sixth-round pick in 2025. The Steelers traded Kenny Pickett, the team’s first-round pick in 2022, after signing Russell Wilson for the $1 minimum .21 million to veterans when he was released by Denver in March. Wilson did not play on Friday because of a lingering calf injury.
Quarterback Kyle Allen got Pittsburgh to within 5 in the second quarter, but the Steelers came up empty on four drives. Allen missed a wide-open Calvin Austin III in the back corner of the end zone on fourth down.
Allen finished 17 of 23 for 193 yards, a late interception and a third-quarter touchdown pass to Connor Heyward.
Houston scored its second touchdown in the second quarter. Pittsburgh’s Quez Watkins missed a punt and running back Dare Ogunbowale capped the six-play, 30-yard drive with a 4-yard touchdown run.
UNDER PRESSURE
Houston defensive end Danielle Hunter made an impact in her two series with two tackles, a sack and two quarterback pressures, including one on the first snap of the game.
The Texans signed Hunter to a two-year, $49 million contract after a 16 1/2 sack season with Minnesota. He should form a duo on the defensive line with Will Anderson Jr.
TRANSACTIONS
The Steelers placed Markus Golden on the reserved/retired list on Friday, just over a week after signing the backup outside linebacker. Golden, who played nine seasons, spent 2023 with the Steelers, recording four sacks, good for third on the team.
Pittsburgh also restored RB/KR Cordarrelle Patterson to the active roster. Patterson, in his 12th NFL season, is a four-time All-Pro returner.
INJURY REPORT
Pittsburgh’s Keeanu Benton left the game with an eye injury.
NEXT
Houston: Hosts the New York Giants next Saturday.
Pittsburgh: Hosts Buffalo next Saturday.
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This story originally appeared on ABCNews.go.com read the full story
