A season-ending ACL tear for breakout receiver Jayden Higgins sidelines C.J. Stroud’s top target, forcing Houston to reshape its offense just as a Super Bowl window opens.
The Houston Texans are one of the best teams in the AFC when it comes to pure talent. The roster is loaded, and it has only improved throughout the 2026 offseason. Hopes are high heading into the 2026 season as the team has won a playoff game in each of the last three seasons, but now the organization is ready for its first, legitimately deep playoff run.
The defense in Houston is not to be trifled with. It is the most loaded unit in the AFC, and it was the best defense in the NFL for most of the 2025 season. The offense is what has been holding the team back as a whole, but things were looking up for that group as well throughout training camp. Quarterback C.J. Stroud was looking comfortable, but now things are going to get trickier after second-year wide receiver Jayden Higgins went down in practice on Tuesday. News broke on Wednesday that the injury will keep him out for the whole season.
Higgins was expected to be the Texans' second wide receiver in 2026 after being drafted with the 34th overall pick in 2025. He progressively got better throughout his rookie year and he played well during the postseason for Houston. He was expected to take a big leap during his second season, but that leap is going to be put on hold as he will now have to work his way back from a torn ACL.
He had over 500 receiving yards and six touchdowns during his rookie season, and those numbers were going to improve in 2026. Now, other players are going to have to step up on the offense. Jaylin Noel is a player to watch as he enters his second season in the NFL as well, and Tank Dell is another person to keep an eye on as he bounces back from a horrific knee injury of his own.
