Houston Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins will miss the 2026 season with a torn ACL, according to a team source who was granted anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak about a sensitive health matter.

Higgins suffered the injury during the team period of Tuesday’s joint practice against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Higgins, the 34th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, was expected to be a major contributor for the Texans in 2026. The Iowa State product turned in a solid rookie season with 41 catches for 525 yards and six touchdowns, serving as a big-bodied target and No. 2 option for quarterback C.J. Stroud opposite star wideout Nico Collins.

Higgins’ injury delivers a blow to a Texans team hoping to contend for a Super Bowl this season. While Houston welcomes back wide receiver Tank Dell from a major leg injury he suffered in 2024 and rookie wideout Lewis Bond has impressed in training camp, Higgins was expected to take a leap in his second year.

New York Mets key offseason signing Jorge Polanco needs season-ending surgery, manager Andy Green told reporters Wednesday after the organization placed the struggling first baseman on the injured list with left ankle bursitis.

It is the latest in a series of blows for the Mets, who sit in last place in the National League East, and Polanco, who has not met expectations since signing a two-year, $40 million contract to replace Pete Alonso.

Polanco had already missed a good chunk of this season with a right wrist contusion and never seemed to hit his stride — hitting .148 with a .431 OPS. The injury limited the 33-year-old to 37 games, only two of which came at first base. 

In a corresponding move, the Mets recalled Eric Wagaman, who has a .956 OPS in 22 games with Triple-A Syracuse.