Texans begin life without 'best player on the field' in Jayden Higgins following season-ending injury

Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans confirmed on Thursday that wide receiver Jayden Higgins suffered a torn ACL during a practice on Tuesday and will miss the remainder of the season. The loss of Higgins, who was once a highly touted second-year player in the passing game, is a significant blow to the team. Head coach Ryans expressed his disappointment, stating that Higgins was one of their best players and that filling his shoes will be a difficult task.

Higgins sustained the injury while running a route in the end zone of a red zone team drill, but it was a non-contact injury. He was able to walk off the field and return to the locker room with the medical staff, but an MRI confirmed the severity of the injury. Higgins will undergo surgery and begin rehab in an attempt to return for the start of next training camp.

Quarterback C.J. Stroud expressed his disappointment, stating that Higgins was playing at his best and making plays that he hadn't seen him do before. With Higgins out for the season, the Texans will need to rely on Xavier Hutchinson and Jaylin Noel to fill the passing game void. Hutchinson, a 2023 draft pick, is entering his fourth season and could be up for a contract extension with the team.

Noel, a third-round pick, has shown promise but has had limited playing time due to a broken finger and hamstring tightness. The team also faces the challenge of Tank Dell's availability, as he is coming off a serious knee injury from December 2024 and has a contract year. The Texans will have to navigate these hurdles in the preseason, with the regular season set to begin soon.