Texans WR Jayden Higgins out for season with torn ACL

The Houston Texans' receiving corps has been significantly weakened after wide receiver Jayden Higgins suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament during a joint practice, effectively ending his season. The injury, reported by NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, occurred on Tuesday, August 18, during a session with the Las Vegas Raiders. Higgins was injured during 11-on-11 red zone drills when he fell awkwardly.

Coach DeMeco Ryans confirmed after Tuesday's practice that the team was evaluating the severity of the injury. Medical evaluations later confirmed the diagnosis of a torn ACL, a season-ending condition. Higgins initially was attended to by medical staff on the field, and a motorized cart was brought out, but he ultimately stood up and walked off the field under his own power, providing initial optimism before the severity was known.

The loss is a substantial blow to the Texans' offensive plans. Higgins, a 2025 second-round pick, was coming off a strong rookie campaign in which he started 10 games, recording 525 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 41 catches. He had been impressing throughout the team's training camp and was poised for a breakout role in 2026.