Overview
- The injury occurred Tuesday during a joint practice with the Las Vegas Raiders when Higgins landed awkwardly in red‑zone 11‑on‑11 drills and walked off the field under his own power before being evaluated by trainers.
- NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport and multiple local and national outlets reported Wednesday that Higgins suffered a torn ACL and will miss the entire 2026 season, with the Texans not issuing an immediate formal announcement at first.
- Higgins was a 2025 second‑round pick who finished his rookie year with 41 catches for 525 yards and six touchdowns and had been projected to be the Texans’ starting No. 2 wide receiver opposite Nico Collins.
- Houston’s next options include promoting Xavier Hutchinson, Jaylin Noel or Tank Dell and relying more on Dalton Schultz, or pursuing veteran free agents or a trade target such as Brandin Cooks or a reunion-style veteran move.
- The timing ahead of the regular season raises pressure on C.J. Stroud and the coaching staff to adjust game plans and roster moves quickly, and it may affect how long starters play in the remaining preseason games.