Story by
Texans’ wide receiver additions following Jayden Higgins injury are lazy & not good enough
- Story by
- Texans’ wide receiver additions following Jayden Higgins injury are lazy & not good enough
The Houston Texans needed to make a move after losing Jayden Higgins for the 2026 season, but the team's initial response feels underwhelming. Houston is signing veteran NFL wide receivers Sterling Shepard and Zay Jones , but neither player looks capable of truly replacing what Higgins was expected to bring to this offense.
There is a reason why both of those players were unsigned in late August; they aren't good enough to be on NFL rosters. The Texans needed to do more than this to help C.J. Stroud and the rest of the offense.
Advertisement
MORE: 4 NFL players with most pressure entering 2026-2027 season
Higgins leaves a massive hole
Jan 18, 2026; Foxborough, MA, USA; Houston Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins (81) warms up before an AFC Divisional Round game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
Higgins wasn't simply another receiver on the Texans' roster. The second-year wideout was expected to take a major step forward and become an important part of the passing game alongside Nico Collins .
The 2025 second-round pick caught 41 passes for 525 yards and six touchdowns as a rookie, and his role was growing as the season progressed. Houston was counting on that development continuing in 2026. Instead, Higgins suffered a torn ACL during a joint practice with the Raiders and will miss the entire season.
Advertisement
That is a brutal loss for an offense that already has questions surrounding Tank Dell and Jaylin Noel .
And that's why simply adding Shepard and Jones doesn't feel like enough.
MORE: Predicting the AFC playoff teams ahead of the 2026-2027 NFL season
Shepard and Jones don't move the needle
Nov 9, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Sterling Shepard (17) runs with the ball in the first half against the New England Patriots at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
There's nothing wrong with bringing in experienced veterans for depth, but Houston needs more than depth.
Advertisement
Shepard is now 33 years old and coming off a season in which he caught 39 passes for 371 yards and one touchdown with Tampa Bay . Jones, meanwhile, is 31 and had just 12 receptions for 183 yards with Arizona last season.
Yes, both players have had productive moments during their careers. Jones had 82 catches for 823 yards and five touchdowns in 2022, while Shepard has been a productive NFL receiver when healthy.
But those are not the players they are today.
The Texans reportedly explored the trade market for receivers, including Kayshon Boutte and Rashod Bateman , before ultimately signing Shepard and Jones.
Advertisement
That is the part that makes this frustrating. Houston is supposed to be a legitimate contender, and C.J. Stroud is entering a critical season. Losing Higgins requires a serious replacement—not two aging veterans who may simply be competing for roster spots.
The Texans still have time to make another move, and they reportedly haven't ruled out further additions.
But for now, Shepard and Jones feel more like emergency depth than legitimate answers to the biggest problem on Houston's offense.
— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —
