News
Jayden Higgins Tears ACL, Out for the Full 2026 Season
Higgins went down Tuesday in joint practice with the Raiders. The diagnosis came back Wednesday: torn ACL, season over before it started.
By Tyler Brandt · August 20, 2026
Houston's Jayden Higginstore his ACL during Tuesday's joint practice with the Raiders and will miss the entire 2026 season, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Higgins went down on a red-zone rep, stayed on the ground, then walked off under his own power. The team held off on a firm diagnosis until Wednesday, when the ACL tear was confirmed.
Higgins was Houston's No. 34 overall pick in 2025 and had 41 catches for 525 yards and six touchdowns as a rookie — a team-high in touchdowns, tied with Nico Collins. He started 10 of 17 games and was locked into a starting outside role heading into camp, alongside Collins and Xavier Hutchinson.
Fantasy impact
Houston already lost Jaylin Noel to a hamstring strain last week. Losing Higgins now leaves the Texans thin behind Collins, and it opens real target share for whoever fills the No. 2 role.
Hutchinson is the closest like-for-like replacement in size and skill set. Tank Dellis the wild card — he's working back from a 2024 knee injury that included ACL, MCL, and LCL tears, and head coach DeMeco Ryans has not committed to a preseason timeline for him. If Dell isn't ready for Week 1, Hutchinson and Noel (once healthy) are the players positioned to absorb the leftover looks.
Higgins' dynasty value takes a real hit on a zero-production 2026 season, but he's 23 and comes off a genuine rookie breakout. A lost year isn't a lost career at that age. Watch how the Texans' receiver room shakes out over the next few weeks — this changes value for more than just Higgins.
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FAQ
- How did Jayden Higgins get hurt?
- He tore his ACL during a joint practice with the Raiders on Tuesday, going down on a red-zone rep. He walked off on his own power, but the injury was confirmed as a torn ACL the next day.
- Will Jayden Higgins play at all in 2026?
- No. The injury rules him out for the entire 2026 season.
- Who benefits in Houston's offense with Higgins out?
- Xavier Hutchinson is the most direct replacement for his role. Jaylin Noel and Tank Dell are both working back from their own injuries, so their availability will determine how much of Higgins' target share actually gets redistributed early in the season.