The Houston Texans have confirmed that wide receiver Jayden Higgins will not play in the entire 2026 season after suffering a torn ACL during a joint practice with the Las Vegas Raiders. This news was reported by NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport.
Higgins, who was selected as the No. 34 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, had a successful rookie season, achieving 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, notably increasing his contributions during Houston's nine-game winning streak to end the regular season. He scored four of his six touchdowns in the final nine weeks, with his highest yardage totals recorded in Weeks 13 and 17.
With Higgins sidelined, the Texans will rely on players like Xavier Hutchinson, Jaylin Noel, and Justin Watson to step up in the receiving game. The team remains optimistic about the potential return of Tank Dell, who is also recovering from injury. Details on Higgins' recovery timeline have yet to be announced.