Texans WR Higgins tears ACL, out for season — SkimNews
SkimNews Take
Joint practices intensify reps precisely for young players still earning roles, making the same format that helps teams evaluate developmental talent also the mechanism that can cut a promising rookie's season short.
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- Jayden Higgins tore his ACL during Tuesday's joint practice with the Las Vegas Raiders while running a route in the end zone during red zone 11-on-11 drills, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
- Higgins, a 2025 second-round pick, had been off to a strong training camp and finished his rookie season with 10 starts, 525 receiving yards, and 6 touchdowns before the season-ending injury.
- Coach DeMeco Ryans said after practice the team was still evaluating the severity of the injury; Higgins initially couldn't get back up but eventually limped off on his own power.
- The Texans will lean on Xavier Hutchinson, a 2023 sixth-round pick who posted career highs of 35 receptions, 428 yards, and 3 touchdowns last season.
- Tank Dell and Jaylin Noel are also expected to see larger roles, but both have been limited in camp — Dell returning from a serious December 2024 knee injury and Noel dealing with a broken finger and hamstring tightness.
Why it matters: Houston loses a productive second-year wideout right before the regular season and must rely on a receiving corps where two of the three remaining options — Dell and Noel — have been too banged up to practice consistently throughout training camp.
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