The Houston Texans took a hit in their wide receiver room this past Sunday, losing Jaylin Noel to a season-ending turf toe injury.
Noel started off slow but really started to hit his stride, appearing to be one of the most explosive wide receivers in the league at the time.
Houston went from having a lackluster wide receiver room to an incredibly loaded one in a matter of weeks, and now they’ve suffered another loss at the position. The good news is that they still have more than enough capable receivers, and there shouldn’t be a huge drop-off, especially with how quarterback CJ Stroud has been playing this season.
General manager Nick Caserio made a big move earlier this year, acquiring Marvin Harrison Jr. from the Arizona Cardinals. Harrison has already made an impact despite limited opportunities as he continues to learn the offense. After the bye week, his snap count should increase significantly, and he’ll provide another talented option alongside Nico Collins.
Another player who needs to step up is Tank Dell, who recently returned after nearly two years away from football. He played very little in his first game back but managed to haul in one reception and it went for over 40 yards, giving the offense a much-needed spark. The chemistry between him and Stroud is still there, and as he continues to bounce back, he’ll bring an explosive element to an offense that needs it.
After those three, Houston still has Kayshon Boutte and Xavier Hutchinson, providing great depth. Both players stepped up at different points throughout the season.
The Texans offense should have no problem moving the ball through the air, but they still have a lot of work to do in their rushing attack to provide more balance and improve the unit.