The early buzz around Jayden Higgins in Texans camp is starting to sound a lot less like noise and a lot more like a preview.
Houston has had a few standouts pop over the past week, and Higgins has been right near the front of that group. The second-year receiver has drawn praise from multiple people inside the building, with head coach DeMeco Ryans among those impressed by how Higgins has handled the offseason and carried it into training camp.
“Higgins came back ready this camp,” Ryans said on Wednesday. It showed in OTAs.
It's showing now, and it's not surprising. He and C.J. are finding a connection because Higgins is doing a really great job of running his routes the proper way.
He's playing with precision. Third down, he's winning, making plays for us."
“Sky's the limit for Jayden Higgins, because he's prepared himself the right way over the offseason. And that's what's a really great example for young guys... He's put the work in, and it's showing here in camp.”
That kind of feedback matters, especially this far out from the season, and Higgins has done enough on the field to back it up. He’s been productive throughout the opening week of camp and looks like a player who’s ready for a much bigger piece of the offense in Year 2.
This stretch has really been the latest chapter in a strong few months for Higgins. He has added another step physically, spent a full offseason learning the Texans’ offense, and entered camp with his chemistry with C.J. Stroud already showing up in practice.
Some of Higgins’ best days have come when Nico Collins, Houston’s top receiver, has been out of practice. Even so, Higgins has taken those reps and made them count.
There was already evidence late last season that he was ready to push forward. Higgins closed his rookie year strongly, and he did a lot of that work with Davis Mills at quarterback. From Weeks 9 to 13 in 2025, he averaged 4.2 receptions on 6.6 targets for over 42 yards a game, and scored touchdowns in two of those games.
Now he’s had more time with Stroud, more time to sharpen his own game, and a clear path to earning more snaps than the 58% of offensive plays he logged as a rookie.
The Texans do have a crowded receiver room. Jaylin Noel, Xavier Hutchinson, and a healthy Tank Dell are all in the mix behind Collins and Higgins, and Houston looks built to spread the ball around to all five of them. That could naturally cap individual volume at times.
Still, if camp is any indication, Higgins is set to be featured. He looks positioned to finish second on the team in targets at the position, and that kind of role could push his numbers to a new level this season.
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