Texans Lose Rising Star Jayden Higgins to Season-Ending ACL Tear

Quarterback C.J. Stroud will lose a key target this season as the Houston Texans continue their rebuild around their young core.

Second-year wide receiver Jayden Higgins is out for the season after suffering a torn ACL during Tuesday’s joint practice with the Raiders, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

The injury is a significant setback for Houston, as Higgins made an immediate impact as a rookie in 2025. The 23-year-old caught 41 passes for 525 yards and six touchdowns while appearing in all 17 games, earning recognition as the team’s third starting receiver.

Higgins also contributed nine receptions for 98 yards during Houston’s two playoff games, showcasing his reliability in crucial moments.

Listed as one of the Texans’ three starting wide receivers alongside Pro Bowler Nico Collins and Xavier Hutchinson, Higgins’ absence creates another hole in the receiving corps.

The Texans’ depth at receiver has been tested in recent seasons. Collins has established himself as the team’s top option but has dealt with various injuries, including a concussion that sidelined him during the Divisional Round loss to the Patriots last season.

Additionally, Tank Dell — once viewed as a Rising star — missed the entire previous season after a severe knee injury sustained late in the 2024 campaign.

Despite high expectations following his impressive rookie campaign, Stroud has struggled to maintain that same level of performance. Over his first three seasons as a starter, he owns a 28-18 record but hasn’t matched the excellence of his debut year, when he threw for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns and just five interceptions across 15 games.

In 2024, Stroud accumulated 3,727 passing yards with 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 17 starts, and last season he managed 3,041 yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 14 appearances.

Perhaps most concerning was Stroud’s performance in the playoff defeat to the Patriots in Foxborough, where he completed only 20 of 47 passes for 212 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions — a stark contrast to his usual precision and decision-making.

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