Texans lose rookie wide receiver Jayden Higgins to torn ACL, out for 2026 season
Houston wideout Jayden Higgins suffered a torn ACL during practice and will miss the entire 2026 season, leaving the Texans without one of their top receiving options.
Houston Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in a joint practice with the Las Vegas Raiders on Tuesday, according to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport. The 23-year-old, a second-year player and the No. 34 overall pick in the 2025 draft, is expected to miss the entire 2026 season.
In his rookie campaign, Higgins recorded 41 receptions for 525 yards and six touchdowns, stepping into a larger role after teammate Tank Dell’s season-ending injury in late 2024. He was a key target for quarterback C.J. Stroud, especially during Houston’s nine-game winning streak that closed the regular season, seeing his share of targets rise by 8.1 percentage points.
Higgins’ late-season production, including four touchdowns between weeks 10 and 18 and his two highest single-game yardage totals in weeks 13 and 17, suggested he could be a major contributor in 2026. With his absence, the Texans plan to rely on receivers Xavier Hutchinson, Jaylin Noel and Justin Watson, while hoping Tank Dell can return to the lineup later in the year.