New NFL Trade Rumors Link Texans to Patriots' Boutte, Ravens' Bateman After Jayden Higgins Injury

The Houston Texans have made some "exploratory trade calls" after learning about wide receiver Jayden Higgins' season-ending injury, KPRC 2's Aaron Wilson reported Friday.

The New England Patriots' Kayshon Boutte and Baltimore Ravens' Rashod Bateman are "potential targets" for the Texans, according to Wilson.

The Texans are also working out former Arizona Cardinals wideout and current free agent Zay Jones, per Wilson. Free agent wideout Josh Reynolds is also "on the team's radar," per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

Former Pro Bowl wide receiver and current Georgia Tech positional coach DeAndre Hopkins isn't a likely target despite his interest in returning to the NFL because the Texans are interested in "bigger" options, Wilson noted.

Higgins suffered a torn ACL during a joint practice against the Las Vegas Raiders earlier this week, ESPN and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday.

Boutte has been floated as a potential trade candidate since the Patriots acquired A.J. Brown and signed Romeo Doubs this offseason.

Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer reported in May he felt Boutte could be acquired at the time "for a fifth- or sixth-round draft pick."

Bateman has also been linked to trade possibilities in the past as the Ravens continue turning to Zay Flowers as the team's top wide receiver.

ESPN's Rich Cimini reported in May the New York Jets were considering Bateman alongside three other receivers as trade targets.

The Jets might not be the only potential competitor in the Texans' search for a wideout. Jones visited the Jacksonville Jaguars and Reynolds worked out for the Indianapolis Colts earlier this summer, per CardsWire's Howard Balzer.

Higgins suffered his season-ending injury after a fall during 11-on-11 drills in the red zone, per ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime.

He was primed to take on a bigger role during his sophomore NFL season after posting 41 catches for 525 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 17 games and 10 starts of the 2025 campaign.

Houston's ability to replace him will be tested by other injuries to the team's wide receiver room. Tank Dell is still working his way back from the knee injury that sidelined him for the entirety of the 2025 season, while Jaylin Noel has been dealing with right pinkie and hamstring injuries.

The Texans have just over a week before the NFL requires teams cut their rosters down to 53 players on Sunday, Aug. 30.