He has displayed strong command of the offense and has been accurate, cutting down on his interceptions. He has made sound decisions.

"Overall, I think we made a lot of progress," Caserio said. "We're a lot further along than we were last year. Everybody's has got more comfort in the system, more experience. I said this at different points in training camp, I think C.J.'s leadership, his accountability, his communication, all those things have been as good as they've been since he's been here."

Now, it's up to Stroud to change the offense. The narrative, well, that won't change in all likelihood unless Stroud is able to lead the Texans to a deep playoff run, if not a Super Bowl.

And he feels good about the outlook of the squad and the talent they've assembled around him.

"I would say chemistry first," Stroud said. "We've been able to be on the same page more. I think consistency, being consistent with good plays, moving forward, not having as many negative plays and penalties. Those are probably the two main things that we've gotten better at and just communication as well."

Stroud has been working overtime with new wide receiver Kayshon Boutte, who was acquired in a trade from the Patriots.

Boutte is known as a big-play machine and a capable deep threat.

"We've been working a lot," Stroud said. "I've been a fan of his since he was in college. He's had a really good career so far in the NFL and I’m excited to have him and I think he just adds to our room. I've been able to work with him during practice and after as well, so just building that chemistry."

The collaboration between Stroud and second-year offensive coordinator Nick Caley is pivotal to the outlook of the Texans' offense.

It marked another system for Stroud to absorb after the Texans fired offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and replaced him with Caley, a former Patriots and Los Angeles Rams assistant.

By all accounts, their combined work together this season has been upgraded. They're on the same page.

Learning a new system, one that has deep roots in the Patriots' offense led by Josh McDaniels, isn't uncomplicated.

"We've been able to communicate better and then just showing what I like, what I don't like and he does the same thing," Stroud said. "We're just getting better understanding where he's coming from more and he's doing the same for me.

"It's huge. It's not easy, first year in any system, in any predicament. Every game finding new things, every practice finding new things and working things out. I think now we kind of have a good grip on what we want to do, what our identity's going to be and that'll change. It's not always going to be exactly what you want, but I think the foundation we built with this second year in the system has been really good."

Laser focused, Stroud said he isn't concerning himself with how he performs in head-to-head matchups with Bills Pro Bowl quarterback Josh Allen or Cincinnati Bengals standout Joe Burrow, the Texans' first two opponents.

"My focus is on my team and their defenses," Stroud said. "I definitely just focus on that and try my best. Stay focused on my job."

NOTES: Texans wide receiver Jaylin Noel isn't listed as a starter on the unofficial depth chart, except as the primary returner. The Texans list Nico Collins, Kayshon Boutte and Xavier Hutchinson as the starting receivers. Noel, though, is the primary slot type and provides a vertical threat. Noel is healthy after missing time at training camp with a broken pinkie finger and a strained hamstring. “From Jaylin, I've seen that confidence start to continue to build, just him getting out there," Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. "He's missed some time, unfortunately, with injury, but just seeing him be out there, stay out there, that's allowed him to just gain some better confidence with the offense. He's looking good. He's looking good as a returner for us as well, expecting him to do big things for us as a returner. I'm just excited to see him out there, staying out there and that's what we have to try to keep him there all year.” Noel is the fastest wide receiver on the team with a 4.39 time in the 40-yard dash. "He brings explosiveness," Stroud said. "I think he's polished his intermediate to short-game routes. His growth has been amazing just to see him grow to be smarter with leverages and winning against tough leverages and coverages that aren't ideal and short-to-intermediate areas. He's grown a lot." ... The Texans injury report was light. They're healthy heading into the Bills game, including three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Jadeveon Clowney back from a soft-tissue hip injury during the preseason. Clowney isn't on the injury report. “Jadeveon is back at practice," Ryans said. "All of our guys are out there working, which is a great thing, to start the season having all the guys available and ready to go. Jadeveon’s done a good job. He's worked himself back. He'll be ready to go.” ... The only players on the injury report all practiced. Rookie linebacker Wade Woodaz (broken thumb, surgery) practiced in a cast and participated fully. Veteran right tackle Trent Brown was also full-go despite a lingering wrist injury. Rookie defensive tackle Kayden McDonald, a second-round draft pick from Ohio State, is limited with an ankle injury. “Kayden's come along really good," Ryans said. "He's improved each week. He's gotten better with what we've asked him to do. Still a young, ascending player, but he's done a good job with what we've asked him to do. He has more to him than just being a run player. I feel like we have a really good rotation with our defensive tackles. We have some depth there, probably the best depth that we've had since I've been here. I'm just excited with that group, with the different amount of guys we can mix in, have different combinations out there. I think it will be a really strong part of our defense this year. ... The Texans are preparing for Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver's presence. The former University of Houston All-American and first-round draft pick adds a gap-shooting aspect to the Buffalo defense. "Ed's a really disruptive player," Ryans said. "He's done it for a while, very disruptive. He can wreck a game by playing violent in the backfield, making plays, sideline-to-sideline. Ed's a really good player. He's been a good player for a long time. He’s a guy we have to put a hat on every single time.” ... Ryans sees a lot of toughness and talent from a youthful left side of the offensive line comprised of first-round draft pick and left guard Keylan Rutledge and second-year left tackle Aireontae Ersery. “Those are two good young football players that we're thankful to have on our team," Ryans said. "They've done a good job all training camp and I know that's what they'll do. The lights won't be too big for them. They're going to go out and do what they've done all training camp, be consistent, play physical and finish the right way. We're going to play with physicality. That's one thing I believe in and that's what football is about. You have to play physical. It's a physical game, tough game for tough people. If you're not tough, then this this is not the place for you.” ... Ryans participated in the Manning Cast promotion with Peyton Manning and Eli Manning along with several NFL players and coaches. His portion was taped during the annual NFL owners meetings in Phoenix. “I'm a one-take guy," Ryans said. "No, that was a fun opportunity for me to shoot the Manning cast. I'm thankful for those guys allowing me to be a part of that and the other coaches I was able to work with. They do a really great job on the Manning cast. I've known Peyton for a long time. For the amount of touchdowns he scored on me, he should have let me get a little get back by getting in the Manning cast. That was a fun deal for me to do.” ... Ryans has been using astronaut talk about the Artemis II NASA campaign as a motivational message for the Texans. “For me, it started with the NASA buildup, with NASA being in our backyard here in Houston," Ryans said. I just really wanted to tie the two together. Houston is about community. Houston is about us being together. I thought it was a really good way to correlate us preparing for Training Camp, getting ready. Just like Artemis II, they prepared, they got ready. It took them time for that buildup and for that moment. Now, come Sunday, it's time for the takeoff. That's the next part of the message, ‘How are we taking off on Sunday?’” ... Texans veteran tight end Brevin Jordan practiced for the first time since missing the entire preseason with a minor knee injury. Jordan has previously dealt with a torn patellar tendon and a torn anterior cruciate ligament. "Just go be free, be himself and just play football," Ryans said. "Don't put any pressure on himself to achieve anything grand. It's just a matter of Brevin staying out there, being consistent. We know he's missed a lot of time. These past two years has been a rough go for him, but it's great to see him just on the practice field working. He just keeps working, doing what he has to do. We know he can help our team.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL insider for KPRC 2 and Sports Talk 790. His YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AaronWilsonSport

Chris Gordy