The Houston Texans are entering the 2026 campaign as a dark-horse Super Bowl contender, but a slew of injuries during training camp have dampened the hype surrounding the team. The latest of the bunch saw Jayden Higgins suffer a torn ACL, which led to him being placed on injured reserve.
With Higgins out for the season, the Texans clearly need some help at the wide receiver position, especially as Jaylin Noel and Tank Dell continue to nurse their own injuries. Shortly after Houston made its aforementioned roster move with Higgins, a report emerged indicating that the team is taking a closer look at a pair of veteran wide receivers.
Texans Targeting Josh Reynolds, Zay Jones in Free Agency
Higgins was primed to enter the 2026 campaign as Houston’s No. 2 wide receiver after a strong start to training camp. Now, though, the Texans are scrambling, and while Noel, Dell, and Xavier Hutchinson could fill the void left by Higgins, even if they all stay healthy, another body is probably needed at this position.
That has led the front office to check in on several players, with free agents Josh Reynolds and Zay Jones being among that crowd. Reynolds is most well-known for his stint with the Detroit Lions, where he caught 40 passes for 608 yards and five touchdowns in 2023, while Jones previously starred for the Jacksonville Jaguars, hauling in 82 receptions for 823 yards and five scores in 2022.
Both Reynolds and Jones have struggled to find their footing in recent years, so if they were to be brought to town, they would be more of a shot in the dark rather than a full-fledged solution. Still, the Texans are showing interest in both of them as the front office continues to survey the landscape at the wide receiver position across the league.
“The Texans, thin at receiver with Jayden Higgins out, are conducting free agent receiver workouts. Josh Reynolds is a name on the team’s radar, as is Zay Jones,” Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported in a post on X.
Should the Texans Sign Josh Reynolds, Zay Jones?
GettyEAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – OCTOBER 05: Josh Reynolds #83 of the New York Jets runs with the ball against Trevon Diggs #7 of the Dallas Cowboys during the second quarter in the game at MetLife Stadium on October 05, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Considering how big of a role Higgins was set to play in the passing attack, it would seem like the Texans would want to bring a legit pass catcher to town. Reynolds and Jones both have proven they can produce in the past, but it’s been a few years now for each guy since they have been a viable option on offense.
Houston’s interest in Reynolds and Jones seems to indicate that it is going to rely heavily on the trio of Hutchinson, Noel, and Dell to step up alongside bona fide superstar Nico Collins at the wide receiver position. Other names could emerge, but Reynolds and Jones are the early frontrunners to find their way to the Texans in the wake of Higgins’ season-ending injury.
Texans Eye Pair of Veteran WRs in Free Agency After Jayden Higgins Injury