Texans lose Higgins to season-ending ACL tear
Houston’s receiving corps faces a significant roster adjustment after second-year wide receiver Jayden Higgins suffered a torn ACL during a joint practice session.
The Houston Texans have confirmed that wide receiver Jayden Higgins will miss the entire 2026 NFL season following a torn anterior cruciate ligament. The injury occurred on Tuesday during a joint practice session with the Las Vegas Raiders, marking a significant setback for the team’s offensive planning just weeks before the regular season commences.
According to reports from NFL Network and ESPN, Higgins fell while running a route in the end zone during 11-on-11 red zone drills. Although he remained on the ground for a period, the 23-year-old eventually left the field under his own power. The incident has forced the coaching staff to re-evaluate the depth chart at the wide receiver position.
Higgins entered the current training camp listed as a starter following a productive rookie campaign. Selected in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, he started 10 games last season, recording 41 receptions for 525 yards and six touchdowns. His absence removes a key component from the receiving unit that was expected to build upon his early success.
With Higgins out, Nico Collins and Xavier Hutchinson are positioned to become the primary available options for the Texans. Hutchinson, a 2023 draft selection, recorded 35 receptions for 428 yards and three touchdowns in the previous season. The team will look to these players to carry the load in the passing game.
The situation is further complicated by the status of other receivers on the roster. Tank Dell, who missed the entire 2025 season due to a knee injury sustained in December 2024, has seen limited practice time during the current camp. Additionally, second-year receiver Jaylin Noel is reportedly dealing with a hamstring issue that has restricted his participation, according to CBS.
The Texans will continue their training camp preparations as they approach their third preseason game. The team is scheduled to open the 2026 regular season on 13 September against the Buffalo Bills, with the receiving corps now facing a more constrained lineup.
