HOUSTON – The Houston Texans will be without wide receiver Jayden Higgins for the upcoming season after he suffered a torn ACL during a joint practice with the Las Vegas Raiders, according to NBC Sports.
Houston sports journalist Aaron Wilson reported that an MRI confirmed the injury Wednesday. Higgins was hurt Tuesday while being covered by Raiders cornerback Eric Stokes. He reached toward his knee before leaving the field on his own.
Recommended Videos
Source: Texans receiver Jayden Higgins tore ACL
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) August 19, 2026
By Aaron Wilson
Texans starting wide receiver Jayden Higgins tore his anterior cruciate ligament, suffering a season-ending injury against the Las Vegas Raiders, according to a league source.
A magnetic resonance imaging exam… https://t.co/btIOage2xe
Higgins was later taken by cart to Reliant Stadium for additional testing. Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said after practice that the team was still assessing the receiver’s leg injury.
“No update at this time with [WR Jayden] Higgins. They’re still evaluating him for a leg injury,” Ryans said.
The setback comes as Higgins was building momentum heading into his second NFL season. The 2025 second-round selection from Iowa State had impressed during training camp and appeared to be developing stronger chemistry with quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Higgins’ size made him a valuable part of Houston’s passing game. At 6-foot-4 and 214 pounds, he provided Stroud with a big target capable of winning contested catches and creating mismatches.
As a rookie, Higgins finished with 41 receptions for 525 yards and six touchdowns on 68 targets. He averaged 12.8 yards per catch and became more involved as the season progressed.
Higgins also contributed during Houston’s playoff run, catching nine passes for 98 yards and moving the chains five times across two games.
The Texans will now look to Collins, Xavier Hutchinson, Lewis Bond, Justin Watson and other receivers to help fill the void. The loss of Higgins removes a potential breakout candidate from an offense that had expected him to take on a larger role.
Houston sports journalist Aaron Wilson contributed to this report.