The Texans spent the offseason trying to give their offense more room to grow in 2026, but one of the clearest internal upgrades might already be in the building. Jayden Higgins, heading into his second year, has the look of a player ready to turn a solid rookie season into something much bigger.
The Athletic’s Mike Jones made Higgins his pick as the Texans player most likely to break out this season, and the case starts with what the receiver already showed as a rookie. "As a rookie, the 6-4, 215-pound wide receiver impressed, contributing 41 catches, 525 yards and six touchdowns on 68 targets.
Look for his role to only expand as he and quarterback C.J. Stroud further refine their connection and Higgins’ understanding of coverages also improves.
Increased production from Higgins will help ease pressure on Nico Collins, who led the team with 71 catches for 1,117 yards and six touchdowns on 120 targets."
That production gave Houston a real glimpse of what Higgins can be. At 6-foot-4, he brings the kind of size that changes how defenses have to play the position.
He can win in traffic, finish contested throws and give Stroud a target who can create problems for smaller defensive backs. The six touchdown catches mattered too.
That’s the kind of finish an offense can lean on.
Now the next step is about comfort and timing. Higgins should have a better feel for Nick Caley’s system after a full offseason, and he’ll keep building his connection with Stroud. That sort of quarterback-receiver chemistry rarely arrives overnight, but Houston has every reason to expect more from that pairing as camp and the season move along.
The ripple effect could be huge for the rest of the passing game. Nico Collins already commands plenty of defensive attention, and if Higgins becomes a more consistent threat, opponents will have to divide that focus. That opens up the field, creates better matchups and gives Stroud more options on any given snap.
Houston also brought in more young receivers this offseason, so the room comes with competition. Even so, Higgins seems positioned to carve out a steady role alongside Collins, helped by what he already proved and the trust he earned from the staff.
If the Texans get continued growth from their young pass catchers, and especially with Tank Dell back, the offense could look a lot different in 2026. Higgins is right near the center of that possibility. Build on last year, and Houston may have another real difference-maker in the passing game.
In Other News...
Texans Hype Comes With One Warning Fans Know Too Well
The Texans are drawing plenty of buzz as the season approaches, and it is easy to see why. Houston brings back almost its entire defense, a unit that should keep the team in the contender conversation from the start, while national analysts have slotted the roster among the leagues best heading into the fall. For a team that spent the offseason being treated like a real threat, the foundation is there, and it starts with a group that has the look of a top-tier defense again.
C.J. Stroud is still the hinge point, though, and the excitement around Houston comes with the same familiar warning. The offense needs more help around Nico Collins, better play up front and steadier production across the board if the Texans are going to turn preseason praise into something bigger. With the defense expected to hold up its end, the question hanging over Houston is whether Stroud can match the standard the rest of the roster is setting. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Rookie Woody Marks Hosts Meaningful Camp For Military Kids
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Marks wanted the camp to be a place where military dependents could feel seen, build confidence and connect with one another through shared experiences. About 150 children took part, and the setting fit the message: a football camp built around resilience, community and the understanding that for many of these families, change is part of everyday life. [Read more 🡒]
NFL Just Sent C.J. Stroud A Message Texans Fans Will Hate
ESPNs latest survey of NFL executives, coaches and scouts did not exactly flatter C.J. Stroud, even if it did confirm he still belongs in the conversation at the position. The Texans quarterback landed outside the top 15 in the leagues preseason quarterback hierarchy for 2026, a notable slide for a player who was once viewed as one of the sports fastest-rising young passers.
The dip reflects a third season that never quite found a steady rhythm, with injuries, uneven team play and a passing attack that often had to fight uphill. Still, Stroud enters the next year with reasons to think the arrow can point back up, from a better overall supporting cast to a second season working with Nick Caley, and Houston has plenty riding on whether he can turn that external skepticism into a rebound. [Read more 🡒]