Texans Face Receiver Setbacks as Diggs Sidelined With Knee Injury
The Houston Texans find themselves grappling with a significant challenge at the wide receiver position after acquiring Stefon Diggs and subsequently losing him to a knee injury. The star receiver, brought over from the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a 2025 second-round draft pick and additional selections, sustained a non-contact knee injury during the Texans’ Week 8 face-off against the Indianapolis Colts. This adds complexity to an already strained offensive lineup.
During the Indianapolis matchup, Diggs contributed five catches for 81 yards before his unfortunate departure from the game. Despite the injury occurring without contact, Diggs managed to leave the playing field under his own power, a sign of resilience that brings some relief to the Texans faithful. However, the injury’s nature has left the team in a state of uncertainty.
Head Coach DeMeco Ryans commented on Diggs' status, stating that the team is "still evaluating" the extent of the injury. This leaves the Texans without clarity on whether their key player will be able to take the field in the near future. An initial injury report has indicated that Diggs would not have participated in practice, hinting at a cautious approach from the team regarding his return.
Compounding the Texans' woes, Nico Collins is currently on injured reserve, further thinning the wide receiver ranks. This situation has resulted in a depleted receiving corps, which poses a significant challenge as the Texans prepare for their upcoming schedules. The team will have to navigate these obstacles ahead of their Thursday night game, an additional twist being that they are coming off a Monday where practice was not on the agenda.
In light of these developments, the Texans are heading into Week 9 facing the New York Jets with limited options at wide receiver. The timing of Diggs’ injury could not be worse, as his recent signing came with a restructured one-year contract valued at $22.5 million, underscoring the high expectations placed on him as a critical component of the Texans' offensive strategy.
The Texans, now in a precarious position, must reassess their strategies and player usage to mitigate these losses. As they continue to evaluate Diggs' injury, the focus will be on how best to optimize remaining resources at the receiver position to maintain competitive momentum in the league.