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The Houston Texans have just suffered a major setback as the new NFL season approaches.
Young wide receiver Jayden Higgins will miss the entire 2026 season after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
The injury occurred on Tuesday during a joint practice between the Texans and the Las Vegas Raiders. Higgins was participating in an 11-on-11 drill when he made a run toward the end zone. He landed awkwardly after his run and was unable to get back up immediately.
The wide receiver eventually left the field limping. After the session, Houston head coach DeMeco Ryans said the team would conduct further tests to determine the severity of the injury.
The results are now in, and they're bad news for the Texans. Higgins, selected in the second round of the 2025 draft, had a promising first season in the NFL. He started 10 games and finished the year with 525 receiving yards and six touchdowns.
His performance during training camp also suggested he could play an even bigger role in the Texans' offense.
Houston will have to find new solutions around C.J. Stroud
Higgins' absence could force the Texans to redistribute responsibilities behind their primary target, Nico Collins. Xavier Hutchinson, Tank Dell, and Jaylin Noel, in particular, will need to capitalize on any opportunities that arise.
Hutchinson, selected in the sixth round in 2023, remains an intriguing option after having his best professional season in 2025. That year, he caught 35 passes for 428 yards and three touchdowns.
The situation is more uncertain, however, for Dell and Noel. Both players were limited during training camp due to physical issues.
Dell is trying to regain his form after a major knee injury sustained in December 2024, which caused him to miss the entire 2025 season.
Noel is also having a difficult training camp. A broken finger and hamstring issues have prevented him from fully participating in practices.
The Texans will therefore need to closely monitor the health of their receiving corps. For C.J. Stroud, the loss of Higgins presents an additional challenge as the season approaches. Houston will need to quickly identify players capable of stepping up to maintain a sufficiently productive offense.
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