Texans strike deep, gain key yards as rookie class plays large role in win over Chargers: ‘Why not us?’

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Jayden Higgins reached a point of speed the Los Angeles Chargers simply couldn’t match, accelerating behind the secondary on a post pattern.

There was no catching up with the imposing Texans rookie wide receiver. The second-round draft pick from Iowa State caught a high, hanging spiral from quarterback C.J. Stroud for a 75-yard touchdown catch, the longest play of the Texans’ season.

One drive later after scoring on the third play from scrimmage at SoFi Stadium, Higgins’ college teammate and best friend scored on another long-distance throw. Rookie wide receiver Jaylin Noel crossed the field sharply to his left and turned on the jets for a 43-yard touchdown catch.

The Texans’ youth movement was in full effect.

Between Higgins and Noel striking deep and rookie running back Woody Marks gaining tough, key yards to run out the clock with a first down, the Texans’ rookie draft class played a large role in a 20-16 victory over the Chargers to help the team clinch a playoff berth.

“Why not us rookies?” Marks told KPRC 2 after rushing for 71 yards on 19 carries in his first game back from a sprained ankle. “Why wait? Just come out there and do your job. They drafted us here for a reason. We didn’t want to wait one year. We want to contribute right now."

And the Texans did. Higgins led the Texans with 88 receiving yards on two catches on four targets. Noel caught three passes for 54 yards and one score on four targets. He returned two kickoffs for 41 yards.

“They shined, bro,” Texans Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins said of Higgins and Noel.

Marks had a long run of 19 yards as backup Jawhar Jordan rushed for 36 yards on eight carries.

“Our young guys have shined all year,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “Woody, the way he runs the football, it’s impressive to see him. Just the toughness that he plays with every single day. Our rookie receivers, they’ve stayed the course.

“They haven’t gotten a ton of action, the ball to them a lot. But when the ball has came to them, Higgins makes a play every single game. And Higgins and Noel made two huge plays for us to really break the game open.”

Higgins, the Texans’ top draft pick after trading out of the first round in a move that sent quarterback Jaxson Dart to the New York Giants, has caught 39 passes for 502 yards and five touchdowns in 10 starts with 63 targets.

The touchdown represents his biggest play of the season.

“Great ball from C.J.,” Higgins said. “Really just a simple post route. I think the just kind of played the flat area and I just ran over the top of him. C.J. threw a great ball and I just ran it in.

“It’s awesome. Whenever you make a big play early in the game, I feel like it gives you a lot of energy. It excites your team.”

Noel has primarily been a return specialist for the Texans. He has caught two touchdowns for the season and 25 passes for 279 yards on 34 targets as veteran Christian Kirk has been the primary slot.

The touchdown for Noel is his second-longest catch of the season.

“It was a play that we drew up all week,” he said. “We knew they were playing soft zones and we knew that they were gonna put a lot of attention on Nico.

“I believe hey were in a half coverage, maybe quarters coverage. We knew that backside safety would get held down by Nico’s route and put me one on one with the safety. And I was able to cross his face and C.J. put a perfect ball out there.”

For Noel to be counted on in a huge game that clinched a playoff berth for a third year in a row was significant to him.

“It’s an honor to be able to have trust from my teammates, my coaches, to be able to put me in positions like that,” Noel said. “Just any time I can make an impact on the outcome of the game is special, and I’m just very excited.

“It means a lot. We take pride in making an impact on this team, (1:49) and that they trust us to make an impact on this team. Woody was a bruiser at the end of the game, being able to run the ball hard when the defense knew he was gonna run it. So for him to be able to do that, it’s big-time, and I’m proud of him.”

It was like old times for Higgins and Noel after teaming up for the Cyclones in the Big 12 Conference.

“Even going back to our college days, we said when we see one of each other make a play, then we want to make a play,” Noel said. “We’re always competing with each other in the small ways, so it felt good to be able to get one on the board.”

Marks isn’t the biggest runner, but he definitely has some power and vision working in his favor."

“Hat’s off to the O-line,” Marks said. “Me, I just got to put my head down and just go get the yards. They do all the big work.”

Stroud liked what he saw from the rookies. Perhaps he’ll call their number along with offensive coordinator Nick Caley more frequently.

“They made two big plays for us, and honestly more in the run game and blocking,” Stroud said. “You can’t put your head down, and even if you do, you’ve got to snap back fast. I thought our rooks have done that, our vets. We just come together as one in that moment.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com