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The Houston Texans have built one of the more talented rosters in the AFC, but one area still deserves a closer look entering the 2026 season. While the top of the wide receiver depth chart is in good hands with Nico Collins, the group behind him still comes with a good amount of uncertainty.
Collins has established himself as one of the NFL's premier receivers when healthy. He has the size, physicality, and playmaking ability to change games, and C.J. Stroud has consistently looked his way in critical situations. The problem is that Collins has also missed multiple games in each of the past few seasons. Whether it's been minor injuries or more significant setbacks, Houston has had to navigate stretches without its No. 1 target. That reality makes the depth behind him even more important.
ESPN's Bill Barnwell recently pointed out why there is reason for concern, "And if Collins isn't on the field, this isn't a scary group of playmakers. There are reasons to be optimistic about Jayden Higgins, who caught six touchdowns last season as a rookie, but he and Jaylin Noel both produced slightly below-average yards per route run marks. It's tough to expect much out of Tank Dell even if he returns from a career-threatening injury this year."
Barnwell's assessment isn't meant to dismiss the talent Houston has assembled. Higgins showed flashes throughout his rookie campaign and demonstrated an impressive ability to finish drives in the red zone. Noel also displayed encouraging moments, even if his overall efficiency left room for improvement. Both players have room to grow and could become reliable contributors as they gain experience.
The biggest unknown remains Tank Dell. Before suffering a devastating knee injury, Dell was one of Stroud's favorite targets and brought an explosive element to the offense that few players can replicate. Unfortunately, expecting him to immediately return to that level after such a serious injury would be unfair.
Fortunately for the Texans, they don't necessarily need another superstar if Collins stays healthy. They need dependable production from the supporting cast, players who can consistently win one-on-one matchups, move the chains, and keep defenses from focusing all of their attention on Collins. Higgins could do a lot of those things in his second season.
Houston has enough talent to field one of the league's better offenses, but wide receiver depth remains one of the roster's few legitimate concerns. If Collins is forced to miss time again, the development of Higgins, Noel, and the recovery of Dell could end up having a major impact on how far the Texans can go in 2026.
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Collins has established himself as one of the NFL's premier receivers when healthy. He has the size, physicality, and playmaking ability to change games, and C.J. Stroud has consistently looked his way in critical situations. The problem is that Collins has also missed multiple games in each of the past few seasons. Whether it's been minor injuries or more significant setbacks, Houston has had to navigate stretches without its No. 1 target. That reality makes the depth behind him even more important.
ESPN's Bill Barnwell recently pointed out why there is reason for concern, "And if Collins isn't on the field, this isn't a scary group of playmakers. There are reasons to be optimistic about Jayden Higgins, who caught six touchdowns last season as a rookie, but he and Jaylin Noel both produced slightly below-average yards per route run marks. It's tough to expect much out of Tank Dell even if he returns from a career-threatening injury this year."
Barnwell's assessment isn't meant to dismiss the talent Houston has assembled. Higgins showed flashes throughout his rookie campaign and demonstrated an impressive ability to finish drives in the red zone. Noel also displayed encouraging moments, even if his overall efficiency left room for improvement. Both players have room to grow and could become reliable contributors as they gain experience.
The biggest unknown remains Tank Dell. Before suffering a devastating knee injury, Dell was one of Stroud's favorite targets and brought an explosive element to the offense that few players can replicate. Unfortunately, expecting him to immediately return to that level after such a serious injury would be unfair.
Fortunately for the Texans, they don't necessarily need another superstar if Collins stays healthy. They need dependable production from the supporting cast, players who can consistently win one-on-one matchups, move the chains, and keep defenses from focusing all of their attention on Collins. Higgins could do a lot of those things in his second season.
Houston has enough talent to field one of the league's better offenses, but wide receiver depth remains one of the roster's few legitimate concerns. If Collins is forced to miss time again, the development of Higgins, Noel, and the recovery of Dell could end up having a major impact on how far the Texans can go in 2026.
Continue reading...
