The Houston Texans are currently dealing with the immediate fallout of losing their rising star in wide receiver Jayden Higgins to a torn ACL sustained in joint practice with the Las Vegas Raiders yesterday.
This includes the organization having to potentially pivot quickly to alternative options who could step up and replicate any level of production that could be missed with Higgins' absence in 2026. Of course the team could look internally for replacements if they're confident enough in their crop of pass catchers already on the roster. However, some in and around the fan base have already begun speculating on who Houston would bring in from outside the organization to help carry the load for the duration.
Here's a categorized list of various wide receivers who the Texans could--and probably should-- look to in order to alleviate the strain brought on by the loss of Higgins.
Options for the Houston Texans to consider as a replacement for Jayden Higgins
In-house options: Xavier Hutchinson, Tank Dell, Jaylin Noel, Lewis Bond, Jared Wayne
This option may not be the most preferred by the fanbase, but Houston could take a WR-by-committee approach when it comes to replicating the projected production of Higgins. Last season, Higgins ranked third on the team in targets (68), third in yards (525), tied for first in touchdowns (6), third in yards per game (30.9) and third in first downs converted (28).
Between Hutchinson, Dell, Noel, Bond and Wayne, could offensive coordinator Nick Caley possibly find a way to combine their talents into a proficient enough unit to overcome the loss of that singular source? Hutchinson himself has also been elevating as of late, so maybe he could theoretically explode with more reps being thrown his way.
However, every receiver after Hutchinson has a major questions mark next to their name:
- Tank Dell: How much can we expect from Dell when he's yet to truly return from his own catastrophic injury that's kept him out since 2024?
- Jaylin Noel: Nursing his own hamstring injury, Noel hasn't been trusted to handle any real load in the offense since his arrival out of Iowa State with Higgins. How much can we expect him to contribute when the coaching staff hasn't prioritized him to a high level before?
- Lewis Bond: Even though Bond has created much fanfare with his training camp excellence, he's still a sixth-round rookie who has to prove that he can hang with NFL competition when given the chance. With the added pressure of replacing Higgins, could Bond handle that kind of responsibility this early on?
- Jared Wayne: Wayne has certainly taken advantage of his opportunities as of late, but he's still virtually in the same boat as Bond. Wayne has one start credited to him, with only having caught two passes for 20 yards in his four-year career. Has he truly done enough to think that he's a late bloomer with latent potential?
Free agent options: Tyreek Hill, Curtis Samuel, DeAndre Hopkins, Josh Reynolds, Brandin Cooks
Honestly, I don't see a single receiver of this bunch that moves the needle as a viable option to step in for Higgins in 2026. That's not to say they don't have any value, but that the expectations associated with their arrival could lead to much disappointing in the most likely circumstance that they wouldn't be able to follow through.
Hill's own catastrophic knee injury in 2025 virtually guarantees he won't be a factor. Then, Samuel, Hopkins, Reynolds and Cooks are savvy veterans, yet seen as having very limited ceilings based on variables like age and big-play potential.
Trade options: Kayshon Boutte (New England Patriots), Jordan Addison (Minnesota Vikings), Jerry Jeudy (Cleveland Browns), Keon Coleman (Buffalo Bills)
This is most likely where Houston will find most of the value in replacing Higgins. Of this list, there are several options who would be great plug-and-play candidates for this offense.
- Kayshon Boutte: Already being halfway out of the door in New England, he just completed arguably the best season of his career thus far. Having accumulated 33 receptions, 551 receiving yards (16.7 average) and 6 touchdowns, a mid-round pick sent to the Patriots could bring at least someone comparable to Higgins in a way
- Jordan Addison: Being the most unlikely on this list, Addison would be an explosive addition to Houston's pass game if general manager Nick Caserio were to find a way to finesse him out of Minnesota. And don't let the 2025 numbers fool you, Addison is a highly productive receiver when he's able to have stability at the quarterback position. From 2023-2024, Addison racked up 133 receptions, 1,786 receiving yards (13.43 average) and 19 touchdowns. Unfortunately, the cost to acquire him would be astronomical for Houston, and there's been no word of the Vikings looking to trade away the former first-round USC Trojan anytime soon.
- Jerry Jeudy & Keon Coleman: I combined these two players because they both fit the bill of being young receivers who've yet to reach anything close to a "full potential" in the NFL. Jeudy is now on his second team in the league (Cleveland Browns) after the Denver Broncos selected him 15th-overall in 2020, while Coleman is clinging to a roster spot with the Buffalo Bills after less-than-stellar production as a second-rounder in 2024. I just don't know if a reclamation project would be an ideal option when you're looking for guarantees during a Super Bowl push.
Add us as a preferred source on Google