Houston Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins will miss the entire 2027 season after tearing his ACL during a joint practice with the Las Vegas Raiders. The injury was reported Wednesday by NFL Network.
Higgins, 23, was a significant contributor as a rookie in 2026, catching 41 passes for 525 yards and six touchdowns in all 17 regular-season games. He also recorded nine catches for 98 yards across the Texans' two playoff appearances. Higgins was expected to be one of the team's starting wide receivers alongside Pro Bowler Nico Collins and Xavier Hutchinson.
Houston's receiving depth has been tested by injuries. Nico Collins has experienced health issues, including a concussion last season that caused him to miss a playoff game. Tank Dell, who showed promise, also missed the entire 2026 season due to a knee injury sustained late in the 2025 campaign.
Quarterback C.J. Stroud will be without an emerging weapon as he aims to improve on recent seasons. Stroud, 24, has a career record of 28-18 as a starter over three years. In 2026, he threw for 3,727 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in 17 games, a decrease from his rookie season where he posted 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, and five interceptions in 15 games. Last season, he recorded 3,041 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions in 14 appearances. Stroud struggled in the Texans' playoff loss to the Patriots, completing 20 of 47 passes for 212 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions.