Texans WR Jayden Higgins Out for Season After Tearing ACL in Raiders Practice

Second-year wideout Jayden Higgins suffered a season-ending ACL tear during 11-on-11 red zone drills against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Houston Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins will miss the entire 2026 NFL season after sustaining a torn ACL during a joint practice session with the Las Vegas Raiders. The injury occurred on Tuesday, August 18, when the 2025 second-round pick collapsed while running a route in the end zone. The incident took place specifically during 11-on-11 red zone drills, where Higgins fell awkwardly and was unable to stand up immediately. Although he eventually limped off the field under his own power, subsequent evaluations confirmed the severity of the ligament damage.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network first reported the diagnosis on Wednesday, August 19. Higgins enters his sophomore year following a productive debut campaign where he recorded 525 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Prior to the injury, the former Louisville athlete had been noted for a strong start to the current training camp. Coach DeMeco Ryans had initially stated following Tuesday's session that the team was still evaluating the wideout's condition before the season-ending news was finalized.

Impact on the Texans Receiving Corps

With Higgins sidelined, Houston must now turn to a depth chart led by Xavier Hutchinson, Tank Dell, and Jaylin Noel. Hutchinson, who entered the league as a sixth-round selection in 2023, is coming off a season in which he established career highs across all major categories. He finished the previous year with 35 receptions for 428 yards and three touchdowns. His role is expected to expand significantly as the primary healthy option remaining from the projected rotation.

Injury Status of Dell and Noel

The Texans face additional availability challenges as other key receivers work through their own medical recoveries. Tank Dell is currently attempting to return from a major knee injury suffered in December 2024, a setback that resulted in him missing the entirety of the 2025 season. Dell has seen limited practice time throughout the current camp as he continues his rehabilitation process.

Jaylin Noel has also been hampered by multiple physical issues during the summer. The receiver has been sidelined by a broken finger and has dealt with persistent hamstring tightness, preventing him from maintaining a consistent practice schedule alongside the first-team offense. These absences leave the Houston roster thin at the position as they transition away from Higgins' production.

Practice Details and Logistics

The joint practice with the Raiders served as the backdrop for the non-contact injury, which occurred at approximately 1:10 PM ET. The Texans' receiving unit took this significant hit just as the preseason schedule intensified. DJ Bien-Aime, who has covered the team for ESPN since July 2022 and hosts the "Talkin' Texans" radio show, noted that the loss of the second-year player removes a high-upside target who had already secured six scoring plays in his professional career. The team will now rely on the next batch of wideouts to fill the void left by the 525-yard producer.