Texans Sign 2 WRs as NFL Trade Rumors Link Patriots' Boutte, Ravens' Bateman After Higgins Injury

The Houston Texans have signed both Sterling Shepard and Zay Jones after hosting the wide receivers for workouts on Friday, per NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.

The news comes after KPRC 2's Aaron Wilson reported that Houston made some "exploratory trade calls" after learning about wide receiver Jayden Higgins' season-ending injury.

The New England Patriots' Kayshon Boutte and Baltimore Ravens' Rashod Bateman were labeled "potential targets" for the Texans prior to Shepard and Jones' contracts, according to Wilson.

Free agent wideout Josh Reynolds was also "on the team's radar," per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

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.

Shepard, who spent the first eight years of his career with the New York Giants, spent the last two seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In 2025, he caught 39 passes for 371 yards and one touchdown in 13 games.

Jones, meanwhile, has played for four different teams throughout his nine-year career--the Buffalo Bills, Las Vegas Raiders, Jacksonville Jaguars and Arizona Cardinals. He spent the last two seasons in Arizona.

In 2025, Jones caught 12 passes for 183 yards in eight games. His best season came in 2022 with Jacksonville, where he caught 82 passes for 823 yards and five scores.

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.

However, it's reasonable to think that the Texans are now out on both receivers.

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.