Predicting Texans' WR Depth Chart After Shepard, Jones Signings

So now feels like about as good a time as any to break down how the Texans' wide receiver room is expected to shake out, how the depth chart could be ordered, and who might be in (or out) of the 53-man roster picture once cuts arrive at the end of the month.

Let's sort through everyone on the Texans' roster at wide receiver and see where they stand less than 10 days out from cutdown day:

Starting X WR: Nico Collins

With or without Jayden Higgins on the field, Nico Collins was always going to be bound for the most snaps as the Texans' X wide receiver, and the most targets in the offense as a whole. But without Higgins there to complement him as his No. 2, there's a chance that Collins could be en route to the best season of his career.

Last season, Collins had over 1,100 yards and 71 receptions with six touchdowns in 15 games. There's a good chance he surpasses all three of those marks in 2026, so long as he's able to remain healthy.

Starting Z WR: Xavier Hutchinson

This is right where you'd expect to see Higgins in the Texans' depth chart. Now, the offense has to pivot, and the wideout with the best chance to fill the void that he leaves is fourth-year veteran Xavier Hutchinson.

Hutchinson is coming off a career season in 2025 with over 400 receiving yards, has been with C.J. Stroud in Houston every year since he arrived in 2023, and has the ideal skillset to complement Collins on the opposite side of him in the offense––even if not as athletically gifted or as explosive as Higgins is.

Starting Slot WR: Jaylin Noel

Jaylin Noel is slowly returning to the Texans' lineup after suffering a hamstring and a finger injury at the start of training camp. And as long as he's good to go for Week 1 of the regular season, he's the clear favorite within this wide receiver room to take the most reps in the slot.

The second-year wideout could have a case to be one of the Texans' biggest breakout candidates since Higgins' injury. He's a young pass-catcher who's due for a huge jump in snaps offensively, had a similarly productive offseason to Higgins, and Houston invested a good bit into him last year as a third-round pick. He'll be someone to keep an eye on in the weeks ahead.

Backups: Tank Dell, Sterling Shepard, Lewis Bond, Justin Watson

Once cutdown day hits, the Texans' wide receiver room could come down to six to seven names. Four of those––Collins, Hutchinson, Noel, and Dell––are virtual locks. So the final two to three are widely up for grabs.

I think of the two newest signings, Sterling Shepard has a better chance to make it to Week 1. He's been more productive than Zay Jones in recent seasons, even if Jones fits a better physical profile to what the Texans need. Lewis Bond has been a camp star worthy of a 53-man spot, and a veteran like Justin Watson might now be more valuable to have with Higgins out.

Could Sneak Onto 53-Man Roster: Zay Jones, Jared Wayne

Zay Jones could still make it to the 53-man roster, but he needs to prove that he can still remain on the field consistently at 31 years old, while also being a productive pass-catcher at this point in his career. Since 2023, he's played in 208 games and averaged less than two catches and 25 yards per game.

Jared Wayne is also someone to keep a close eye on. He's been someone making noise throughout camp and in preseason, and as a 6-foot-3, 210-pound wideout, maybe the Texans could value him as a bigger target to have in the room, who's also been around the building since 2024.

Likely Cuts: Jha'Quan Jackson, Josh Kelly, Treyvhon Saunders, Daniel Sobkowicz, Juwann Winfree

These five wide receivers are still listed on the Texans' 90-man roster, but don't exactly have an inside track to make it past cutdown day at the end of the month.

Perhaps a practice squad nod is in store for one or multiple of them. Daniel Sobkowicz has been someone many have liked when he was picked up as a UDFA in April, so maybe he finds his way in there. But when compared to the nine players clearly sitting ahead of them in the pecking order, it doesn't feel like anything more is within reach for anyone in this tier.