Houston Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins seemed destined for an expanded role in 2026, but after tearing his ACL, those plans have been put on hold. According to ESPN, it happened as Higgins fell awkwardly while running a route during 11-on-11 drills in a joint practice with the Las Vegas Raiders on Tuesday.
A 2025 second-round pick, Higgins had 41 receptions for 525 yards and six touchdowns in his debut season. Only Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (7) had more receiving touchdowns as a rookie.
Higgins saw so much action partly because fellow Texans receiver Tank Dell missed the entire season with a knee injury. Dell isn't quite ready to go yet, and with Higgins out for the year, there could be some major changes in playcalling for the Texans.
How the Jayden Higgins injury affects the Houston Texans' offensive scheme
Quarterback CJ Stroud struggled without Dell in 2025, as he barely surpassed 3,000 passing yards (3,041), albeit with only 14 games played. Dell is trending towards being ready for the season opener, but if he's not, Stroud will have to look to Xavier Hutchinson to fill the void. Jaylin Noel and Justin Watson could also see an increase in snaps, but the former is dealing with an injury himself (hamstring/finger), and the latter played in just four games last season.
Every Texans receiver could be considered a deep threat, but Higgins regularly saw targets on short/medium routes as well. Collins will be lined up on the outside 99% of the time, and most of his routes will be more than 15 yards down the field. Without Higgins, I expect Hutchinson or Noel to take the shorter routes, assuming Dell is back on the outside opposite of Collins.
Hutchinson is the type of receiver that fits into the slot well: quick feet at the line of scrimmage and a burst at the top of his routes. Noel has the same kind of quickness with more reliable hands, so if he gets healthy by week one, he could split snaps with Hutchinson at WR3 and eventually take over.
There is also a chance Texans offensive coordinator Nick Caley deploys an offense with more two tight end sets. Rookie tight end Marlin Klein has size (6-foot-6) and athleticism, and he's already proven he can make plays. Plus, as a former Michigan Wolverine, he's already comfortable blocking. Aside from Klein, tight ends Foster Moreau and Cade Stover would also see the field more.
Houston could decide to favor the run as well, but that might already be in the cards with the offseason addition of running back David Montgomery. A more run-heavy approach would be beneficial for Stroud, and it could also be a positive for the receivers stepping into new roles.
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