The Houston Texans are facing challenges as they prepare for their preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders on August 20. The team recently suffered a significant blow with the news that wide receiver Jayden Higgins has torn his ACL, which will sideline him for the entire season. This injury complicates the offensive strategy for quarterback C.J.
Stroud, who was looking to improve after a solid rookie season but has seen a decline in performance over the past two years.
Despite the injury to Higgins, Stroud is expected to play a few series in the game, with estimates suggesting he could be on the field for up to 25 plays. The Texans have yet to finalize their offensive line alignment, but the first-team offensive line will be starting.
Meanwhile, the first-string defense will not participate in this game, as they were one of the top defenses in the NFL last season.
With Higgins out, Stroud will need to rely on other receivers, particularly Nico Collins, who had a productive season last year with 71 receptions for 1,117 yards and six touchdowns. Additionally, players like Tank Dell, Xavier Hutchinson, and Jaylin Noel will be crucial for the Texans' offense.
