C.J. Fiedorowicz has gotten better, and his head coach has noticed.
"C.J. has had a good offseason," Bill O'Brien said during the second week of OTAs. "He's definitely an improved player."
The second-year tight end, according to O'Brien spent a lot of time at NRG Stadium over the last four months putting in hard work.
"Looks like he's improved some of his route running ability and some of his skill set there," O'Brien said. "He's improved his hands to a certain degree. The true test for linemen and tight ends is when the pads go on in training camp."
As a rookie in 2014, Fiedorowicz started eight of the 15 games in which he played, catching four passes for 28 yards. His lone touchdown came in the Week 16 win over the Ravens, when he pulled in a pass from Arian Foster.
But through two weeks of OTAs, the former Iowa Hawkeye said the difference over this time last year is drastic.
"There was just so much going through my head where I wasn't able to play fast," Fiedorowicz said. "I noticed already this OTA session, I'm going out there and when I see it I'm going fast. The quarterbacks are really seeing us right now, so we're all excited."
Knowledge of the system has aided in Fiedorowicz's ability to play faster. Also helping is improved health, as Fiedorowicz revealed Monday that he'd gone through arthroscopic knee surgery in January. The tight end said his knee "feels great" and is "strong".
O'Brien wants "to see very consistent play" from the tight end, and said a strength of Fiedorowicz's is his blocking.
"He's a very good blocking tight end and I think he can help us in the passing game," O'Brien said. "I think he can run the different routes that we need the tight ends to run."
The Texans will start their third week of OTAs on Monday at the Houston Methodist Training Center.
The Houston Texans roster in photos. (Updated 4/16/2021)
TE, Jordan Akins, #88
TE, Antony Auclair
DL, Auzoyah Alufohai, #98
DB, Cornell Armstrong, #30
DL, Ross Blacklock, #90
OL, Justin Britt
DB, Terrence Brooks
TE, Pharaoh Brown, #85
OL, Cohl Cabral, #72
OL, Marcus Cannon
WR, Randall Cobb, #18
DL, Maliek Collins
WR, Chris Conley
WR, Brandin Cooks, #13
WR, Isaiah Coulter, #82
WR, Keke Coutee, #16
DB, Keion Crossen, #35
LB, Zach Cunningham, #41
LB, Tae Davis
DL, Brandon Dunn, #92
LB, Duke Ejiofor, #53
WR, Alex Erickson
K, Ka'imi Fairbairn, #7
QB, Ryan Finley
OL, Hjalte Froholdt, #77
LB, Jonathan Greenard, #52
LB, Kamu Grugier-Hill
LB, Nate Hall, #48
DB, Vernon Hargreaves III, #26
OL, Charlie Heck, #67
RB, Dontrell Hilliard, #27
OL, Tytus Howard, #71
RB, Buddy Howell, #38
RB, Mark Ingram
TE, Ryan Izzo
LB, Jordan Jenkins
RB, David Johnson, #31
DL, Jaleel Johnson
DB, Lonnie Johnson Jr., #32
P, Cameron Johnston
DB, Desmond King
LB, Christian Kirksey
DL, Shaq Lawson
RB, Phillip Lindsay
LB, Jacob Martin, #54
OL, Justin McCray
LB, Whitney Mercilus, #59
DB, Terrance Mitchell
WR, Donte Moncrief
DB, A.J. Moore Jr., #33
WR, Chris Moore
DB, Eric Murray, #23
LB, Hardy Nickerson
DL, Charles Omenihu, #94
DB, Jonathan Owens, #36
LB, Kevin Pierre-Louis
RB, Scottie Phillips, #40
TE, Paul Quessenberry
DB, John Reid, #34
DB, Justin Reid, #20
DL, Derek Rivers
WR, Andre Roberts
DB, Bradley Roby, #21
OL, Max Scharping, #74
DB, Tremon Smith
OL, Jordan Steckler
OL, Lane Taylor
QB, Tyrod Taylor
DL, Vincent Taylor
LB, Joe Thomas
DB, Tavierre Thomas
OL, Cole Toner
OL, Laremy Tunsil, #78
DL, MeMarcus Walker
TE, Kahale Warring, #81
QB, Deshaun Watson, #4
LS, Jon Weeks #46
