The Houston Texans are entering the final stages of their 2026 NFL preseason with several important position battles still unresolved. The latest Texans depth chart provides a clearer picture of how head coach DeMeco Ryans could shape the roster, while the season-ending injury to wide receiver Jayden Higgins has created another major challenge for Houston.
Higgins suffered a torn ACL during practice and is expected to miss the entire 2026 season. His absence is particularly significant because the Texans were counting on the young receiver to take on a larger role after an encouraging rookie campaign.
Texans Depth Chart: Wide Receiver Situation
The Texans’ wide receiver depth chart has changed considerably because of injuries. Nico Collins remains the team’s leading established receiving option, while Jaylin Noel could be positioned for a bigger role.
Tank Dell is also recovering from a serious knee injury, leaving Houston with less depth and experience at the position than expected entering training camp.
Behind Collins and Noel, the Texans have several players competing for opportunities, including Xavier Hutchinson, Lewis Bond, Jared Wayne, Justin Watson, Treyvon Saunders, Josh Kelly, Daniel Sobkowicz, Jha’Quan Jackson and Juwann Winfree.
The situation puts additional pressure on C.J. Stroud and the coaching staff to develop reliable alternatives in the passing game.
What Jayden Higgins’ Injury Means
Higgins’ absence is one of the biggest changes affecting the Texans’ offensive outlook. As a rookie, he recorded 41 receptions for 525 yards and six touchdowns, showing enough potential for Houston to expect an expanded role in Year 2.
With Higgins unavailable, the Texans will need other receivers to absorb his snaps and production. Collins is expected to remain a central part of the offense, but the competition behind him could become increasingly important during the final preseason games.
For Ryans and the coaching staff, the remaining preseason schedule provides an opportunity to evaluate which players can handle larger responsibilities.
Texans Right Tackle Depth Chart Battle
While the receiver situation has been affected by injury, the right tackle position remains one of the most intriguing battles on the Texans depth chart.
The team previously listed Trent Brown and Braden Smith together rather than naming one clear starter. Brown is attempting to retain the starting position he held when healthy last season, while Smith arrived as a free-agent addition with a strong case to become the Week 1 starter.
Both players have reportedly performed well during training camp, making the competition difficult to predict.
The Texans’ preseason matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders could provide an important opportunity for the coaching staff to evaluate both tackles in game conditions.
Keylan Rutledge Gives the Offensive Line More Clarity
The center position appears to have a clearer outlook. First-round rookie Keylan Rutledge is widely expected to begin the season as Houston’s starting center.
That developing certainty makes the right tackle competition even more significant. With the center position seemingly moving toward a defined solution, the Texans can focus more attention on determining whether Brown or Smith provides the best option at right tackle.
The decision could have an important impact on the protection provided to Stroud once the regular season begins.
Texans Preseason Schedule
Houston still has important preseason work ahead before opening the regular season.
The Texans are scheduled to face the Las Vegas Raiders on August 20 before finishing the preseason against the Carolina Panthers on August 28.
Those games should give Ryans and his staff more information about several roster battles, particularly at wide receiver and right tackle.
Houston will then open the regular season at home against the Buffalo Bills on September 13 at NRG Stadium. Facing a team featuring quarterback Josh Allen makes roster stability and offensive-line continuity especially important.
What to Watch on the Texans Depth Chart
The Texans’ depth chart could continue to change before Week 1. The most important areas to monitor include the wide receiver rotation and the competition at right tackle.
At wide receiver, Houston needs players behind Collins and Noel to demonstrate that they can contribute consistently following Higgins’ injury and Dell’s recovery.
At right tackle, the Brown-Smith competition remains one of the biggest unresolved questions on the offensive side of the roster. Their preseason performances could ultimately influence the coaching staff’s decision.
Final Takeaway
The Texans depth chart is becoming clearer as the 2026 season approaches, but several important questions remain. Nico Collins and Jaylin Noel are positioned to become key wide receiver options following Jayden Higgins’ season-ending ACL injury, while several younger and less-established receivers will compete for additional opportunities.
Meanwhile, the right tackle position remains unsettled between Trent Brown and Braden Smith. With Keylan Rutledge expected to provide more certainty at center, that battle could become one of Houston’s most closely watched position competitions before Week 1.
The final preseason games should provide valuable clues about how DeMeco Ryans plans to build the Texans’ offense for the 2026 NFL season.
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