The Houston Texans have confirmed that wide receiver Jayden Higgins will be sidelined for the entire 2026 season after tearing his ACL during a joint practice with the Las Vegas Raiders. NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported this news on Wednesday.
Higgins, who was drafted as the 34th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, had a successful rookie year, making 41 receptions for 525 yards and six touchdowns. He became a crucial target for quarterback C.J. Stroud, particularly after teammate Tank Dell was injured late in the 2024 season.
In the 2025 season, Higgins caught 41 passes out of 68 targets and saw an uptick in his target share during Houston's impressive nine-game winning streak to finish the regular season. He notably scored four touchdowns in the last nine weeks of the season and achieved his top yardage marks in Weeks 13 and 17.
With Higgins unavailable, the Texans are expected to rely on players like Xavier Hutchinson, Jaylin Noel, and Justin Watson to bolster their receiving lineup. There is also optimism regarding Tank Dell's potential return from injury at some point during the season. Details on Higgins' recovery timeline are still pending.
