CJ Stroud, Texans Strike First; Lead Steelers 7-0: 2Q Live Game Updates

It's finally here. Football is back! Well, sort of.

The Pittsburgh Steelers kick off their preseason schedule on Friday night against the suddenly intimidating Houston Texans . The Steelers have plenty of storylines to watch for in Game 1 and as the preseason unfolds - not the least of which is the battle under center.

It'll be Justin Fields under center for the Steelers at least for a few series against Houston as presumed starter Russell Wilson is still hobbled by a calf injury suffered on the first day of conditioning this offseason.

While it's the first preseason game for the Steelers , the Texans have already suited up this preseason against the Chicago Bears in the Hall of Fame game last Thursday night.

Quarterback phenom C.J. Stroud enters his second season and did not see the field against Chicago. But the defending Offensive Rookie of the Year is expected to have some playing time on Friday night.

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans told the media this week that he "truly believes that a guy needs to get reps in a preseason game".

TEXANS INJURY REPORT

CB Desmond King - OUT
OT Tytus Howard - QUESTIONABLE
WR Noah Brown - QUESTIONABLE
WR Stefon Diggs - QUESTIONABLE
DE Will Anderson Jr. - QUESTIONABLE

STEELERS INJURY REPORT

LB Tyler Murray - IR
DT Breiden Fehoko - QUESTIONABLE
S DeShon Elliott - QUESTIONABLE
WR Roman Wilson - QUESTIONABLE
LB David Perales - IR

Gametime weather is expected to be partly cloudy and 82 degrees.

Live game updates will appear here after kickoff...

The Steelers win the toss and take the ball first.

FIRST QUARTER: Texans 7, Steelers 0

Fairbairn kicks the ball to Plumlee who returns to the PIT 23 for 19 yards.

Fields passes short right to Harris for 16 yards to the PIT 39.

Harris runs up the middle for a loss of one, then Fields finds Pickens on the near sideline for 15 and a first down.

Fields fumbles the snap, recovered by Pittsburgh for a loss of four, then Warren runs off right guard for a gain of one. On 3rd and 13 from the 50, Fields connects with Freiermuth for just six. The Cameron Johnston punt goes 39 yards to the HOU 5, returned by Sims for 16 yards to the HOU 21.

Pierce takes a pitch from Stroud and runs off right end for a loss of one, then Stroud connects with Stover for a gain of seven. On 3rd and 4 from the HOU 29, Stroud passes incomplete deep down the right sideline for Dalton Schultz. The Townsend punt goes 59 yards to the PIT 12, fair caught by Quez Watkins.

Fields fumbles the ball again on the snap, recovered by Colletto at the PIT 19. On 2nd and 6 from the PIT 19, Fields scrambles for two yards. On 3rd and 4 from the PIT 21, Fields is sacked for a loss of eight. The Johnston punt goes 50 yards to the HOU 37, returned by Dell to the PIT 41 for 22 yards. PENALTY on PIT-D.Fitzpatrick, Player Out of Bounds on Kick, 5 yards, enforced at PIT 41.

Pierce runs off right tackle for two yards to the PIT 34, then Stroud passes incomplete short right to Schultz. Stroud was under immense pressure from Nick Herberg.

TOUCHDOWN TEXANS: On 3rd and 8 from the PIT 34, Stroud passes deep down the left sideline to Tank Dell for 34 yards and a touchdown. The XP is good for a 7-0 Texans lead with 6:17 left in the first quarter.

The Fairbairn kickoff goes 64 yards to the PIT 1, and Plumlee returns 23 yards to the PIT 24. PENALTY on PIT-R.Watts, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at PIT 24.

Harris runs off right guard for six to the PIT 20, then Fields finds Pickens on a side-arm pass on the right side for 10 and a first down at the PIT 30.

Fields connects with Van Jefferson deep down the left side on a corner route for 20 yards to the 50.

Fields has started the game 5-for-5 for 67 yards.

Warren runs off left end for one, then Warren runs off left tackle for nine yards and a first down at the HOU 40.

Harris takes a pitch from Fields on the left side and gets four yards off a nice block from Fautanu, then Fields throws his first incompletion of the game short on the right side for Jefferson. On 3rd and 6 from the HOU 36, Fields gets sacked for a loss of seven. On 4th and 13 from the HOU 43, the Johnston punt goes 35 yards to the HOU 8 with no return.

Pierce runs off right guard for one, then Davis Mills passes incomplete deep down the right side for Robert Woods. PENALTY on PIT-J.Porter, Defensive Pass Interference, 24 yards, enforced at HST 9 - No Play.

Pierce runs up the middle for two, then Mills misses Hutchinson across the middle.

END OF THE FIRST QUARTER

SECOND QUARTER: Texans 7, Steelers 0

3rd and 8 coming up...

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