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.
TE, Jordan Akins, #88
WR, Danny Amendola, #89
TE, Antony Auclair, #83
DL, Ross Blacklock, #90
TE, Pharaoh Brown, #85
RB, Rex Burkhead, #28
OL, Geron Christian Sr., #72
DL, Maliek Collins, #97
WR, Nico Collins, #12
WR, Chris Conley, #18
WR, Brandin Cooks, #13
LB, Zach Cunningham, #41
WR, Davion Davis, #81
QB, Jeff Driskel, #6
K, Ka'imi Fairbairn, #7
RB, Royce Freeman
DL, Jonathan Greenard, #52
LB, Kamu Grugier-Hill, #51
OL, Charlie Heck, #67
LB, Neville Hewitt, #43
OL, Tytus Howard, #71
DL, Jordan Jenkins, #50
RB, David Johnson, #31
DL, Jaleel Johnson, #93
DB, Lonnie Johnson Jr., #1
P, Cameron Johnston, #11
TE, Brevin Jordan, #9
DB, Desmond King II, #25
DB, Cre'von LeBlanc, #21
DL, Roy Lopez, #91
DL, Jacob Martin, #54
OL, Justin McCray, #64
QB, Davis Mills, #10
DB, Terrance Mitchell, #39
WR, Chris Moore, #15
DB, A.J. Moore Jr., #33
DB, Jimmy Moreland, #22
OL, Jimmy Morrissey, #79
DB, Eric Murray, #23
LB, Kevin Pierre-Louis, #57
DB, Justin Reid, #20
DL, Derek Rivers, #95
OL, Max Scharping, #74
DB, Tremon Smith, #24
QB Tyrod Taylor, #5
OL, Cole Toner, #66
DB, Tavierre Thomas, #37
DL, DeMarcus Walker, #55
LB, Garret Wallow, #32
QB, Deshaun Watson, #4
LS, Jon Weeks #46
LB, Eric Wilson, #59
