The Houston Texans are facing challenges as they prepare for their preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders on August 20. The team announced that wide receiver Jayden Higgins has suffered a torn ACL, which will sideline him for the entire season. This injury significantly impacts the Texans' offense, particularly for quarterback C.J.
Stroud, who is looking to improve after a regression in performance over the past two seasons.
Despite the setback, Stroud is expected to take the field for a few series, potentially up to 25 plays, as the Texans aim to solidify their offensive strategies. The first-team offensive line will also start in this game, while the first-string defense will remain on the sidelines. Last season, the Texans' defense was considered one of the best in the NFL.
With Higgins out, Stroud will rely heavily on wide receiver Nico Collins, who had a productive season last year with 71 receptions for 1,117 yards and six touchdowns. Other receivers, including Tank Dell, Xavier Hutchinson, and Jaylin Noel, will need to step up in Higgins' absence. Dell, who missed last season due to injury, previously showed strong chemistry with Stroud.
Noel, drafted shortly after Higgins in 2025, was college teammates with him at Iowa State.
