Regarded as a lock to be named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is also among the leading candidates for the Pro Bowl.
Stroud, who’s on pace to pass for 5,000 yards and 28 touchdowns, has 44,095 votes for the Pro Bowl, ranking second among all NFL players behind Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s 59,680 votes. Ranking behind Stroud: San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
Selection for the Pro Bowl Games in Orlando, Fla. is through fan balloting, players and coaches, split into thirds. Voting is available at ProBowl.com/vote until Dec. 25. The player and coaches’ voting is set for Dec. 29, and the game is coached by retired quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Eli Manning.
Returning Pro Bowl left offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil ranks seventh in fan balloting at his position with fullback Andrew Beck ranked sixth, tight end Dalton Schultz raked eighth and rookie wide receiver Tank Dell, out for the season with a broken left fibula, ranked 10th.
Last season, offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil was the lone Texans player to make the Pro Bowl. This year, Tunsil is seventh among tackles in the fan vote.
Stroud is also a candidate for NFL MVP.
“I think it’s pretty cool to get recognition from people on some of the special things that we’ve done as a team,” Stroud said. “It’s a blessing. Of course, that was a goal of mine, to be a Pro Bowler and to be at the top of my game at this point, and like I always tell you all, ‘One week they love you, one week they hate you.’
“I’ll just keep going and stay steadfast, my head down, working, and that’s what I plan to do. But, that’s super dope and I appreciate that. The biggest thing for me as a player is getting the respect on the other side of the field: other teams. For now, like every game, after the game, I always get a lot of good feedback and just advice and stuff, a lot of respect. And I give a lot of respect back out on guys who play in this league, so it’s been pretty cool. I appreciate that.”
Aaron Wilson is a contributor to Sports Talk 790.
Photo: Sam Hodde / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
Texans work out three players
The Texans worked out veteran wide receiver Damiere Byrd on Thursday along with cornerbacks Craig James and Thomas Graham, according to a league source.
None of the players were immediately signed, per sources.
Byrd has played for the Carolina Panthers, Arizona Cardinals, New England Patriots, Chicago Bears and Atlanta Falcons.
Byrd, 30, has 130 career receptions for 1,689 yards and seven touchdowns with 466 return yards and one score.
He was released from the Panthers’ injured reserve list in August, signing with the Falcons’ practice squad in October and was released in November.
James is a former Minnesota Vikings undrafted free agent from Southern Illinois. He had a good workout, per a source.
He has 17 career tackles and one fumble recovery. James has also played for the New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles.
He has played in two games this season for the Jets, recording one pass defensed with one tackle.
Graham is a former Chicago Bears sixth-round draft pick from Oregon. He played high school football with Texans rookie quarterback and Pro Bowl candidate C.J. Stroud at Rancho Cucamonga High School. He has also played for the Cleveland Browns. Graham has 13 career tackles and four passes defensed.
Graham was released by the Browns from injured reserve on Nov. 28.
Aaron Wilson is a contributor to Sports Talk 790.