<p>Stroud gains veteran help as Kirk accelerates his learning curve and improves timing with the passing game.</p><p>The duo’s familiarity and Kirk’s route distribution could speed up Stroud’s development while making the offense more efficient overall.</p>

Stroud faces a test against Jacksonville’s secondary after a rough early stretch; his ability to distribute to receivers and maneuver the pocket under pressure will determine Houston’s scoring consistency.

Stroud enters Week 3 with a favorable matchup versus Jacksonville, aided by a running floor from 59 rushing yards across two weeks. His ceiling rises if Houston’s passing game leverages Tyson Campbell’s vulnerability on the perimeter, making him a strong Week 3 streaming option.

Stroud went 13-of-24 for 207 yards with a TD but misfired on several crucial timing throws and failed to capitalize in the red zone, underscoring the rookie’s ongoing growth curve amid blocking and route-distribution challenges.

Stroud is navigating a slow start for Houston, with the offense averaging 14 PPG and just one passing TD through two games. His leadership is under the microscope as Caley introduces a new offensive approach ahead of Week 3 against Jacksonville.