Former Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Zay Jones is headed back to the AFC South, this time with one of Jacksonville’s division rivals.
NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported Friday on X that the Houston Texans are signing Jones and Sterling Shepard after both veterans impressed during a workout earlier in the day.
The additions come after second-year receiver Jayden Higgins suffered a torn ACL that will cost him the 2026 season.
For Jacksonville, Jones’ return to the division adds a known name to two games with AFC South implications. The Jaguars are scheduled to face Houston on Oct. 18 at Wembley Stadium in London and again Dec. 20 in Houston.
Jones spent two seasons with Jacksonville from 2022-23 and produced the best year of his NFL career during the Jaguars’ 2022 playoff run.
Texans Turn to Jones After Higgins Injury
GettyINDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – SEPTEMBER 10: Zay Jones #7 of the Jacksonville Jaguars catches a touchdown pass against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 10, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Houston moved fast after losing Higgins, who had been positioned for a larger role entering his second NFL season.
Reuters reported that Higgins tore his ACL during a red-zone drill at a joint practice with the Raiders on Aug. 18.
Higgins finished his rookie season with 41 catches for 525 yards and six touchdowns, then added nine receptions for 98 yards across two playoff games. His loss left the Texans needing another experienced option in a receiver room that all of the sudden had a gaping hole.
Jones and Shepard give Houston two veterans with extensive NFL experience.
Jones has 307 career receptions for 3,295 yards and 18 touchdowns across 123 regular-season games. Shepard has 443 catches for 4,800 yards and 25 touchdowns over his career.
Jones’ recent production has been more humble. He spent the past two years in Arizona, catching eight passes for 84 yards in 2024 and 12 passes for 183 yards in 2025. Shepard recorded 39 catches for 371 yards and one touchdown with Tampa Bay last season.
The signings give the Texans more options before roster cuts as Jones gets a chance to revive his career in a division he knows well.
Jones Had His Best Season With Jaguars
GettyJACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 17: Zay Jones #7 of the Jacksonville Jaguars reacts during the second quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs at EverBank Stadium on September 17, 2023 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Jones joined Jacksonville in 2022 on a three-year, $24 million contract with a maximum value of $30 million. He swiftly became one of the Jaguars’ most productive pass catchers.
Jones set career highs with 82 receptions and 823 yards in 2022 while adding five touchdowns. He finished only two catches behind Jacksonville’s team leader and played a central role as the Jaguars won the AFC South and reached the divisional round.
His biggest moments came during Jacksonville’s late-season surge.
Jones posted 11 catches for 145 yards in a 28-27 comeback win over Baltimore in November. He later caught six passes for 109 yards and three touchdowns in an overtime victory against Dallas.
Jones also delivered in the postseason.
During Jacksonville’s 31-30 wild-card comeback against the Chargers, he hauled in a 39-yard touchdown that cut a 27-point deficit to 10 late in the third quarter.
He finished the 2022 postseason with 13 catches for 157 yards and a touchdown.
His second season in Jacksonville never developed the same way.
Injuries limited Jones to nine games in 2023, when he caught 34 passes for 321 yards and two scores. The Jaguars released him after using a first-round pick at receiver in the 2024 NFL Draft, a move that created more than $5 million in cap savings.
Two years later, Jones is back in the AFC South and will face his old side.
Jaguars’ Former 823-Yard WR Signs With Houston Texans