Are the Texans the team best equipped to dethrone the Chiefs in the AFC? At full strength, they have a case.
C.J.
Stroud's cheap rookie contract has allowed Houston to surround its quarterback with an impressive collection of weapons, and the Texans' defense is off to a strong start after adding Danielle Hunter in free agency.
The Texans' biggest offensive addition, however, went down in Week 8.
Stefon Diggs received some bad news Tuesday, dealing a major blow to a receiving corps already waiting for Nico Collins to recover from a hamstring injury.
Here's what you need to know about Diggs' recovery timeline and who might step up in his absence.
MORE: Week 9 NFL Power Rankings | Week 9 NFL picks | Week 9 NFL picks against the spread How long is Stefon Diggs out? Diggs is set to miss the remainder of the season with a torn ACL.
There was hope Diggs avoided a season-ending injury after the Texans' win over the Colts in Week 8, but tests confirmed Tuesday that his 2024 campaign is done.
Texans WR Stefon Diggs out for rest of season with torn ACL.
pic.twitter.com/4iV11cRLQP Diggs had gotten off to a solid start to what could be his only season with the Texans, racking up 496 yards and three touchdowns in eight games.
He took on a pivotal role after Collins was placed on IR following a hamstring injury.
While Collins is expected back in Week 10, Diggs' injury leaves the Texans thin on receivers against the Jets in Week 9.
Collins' return should help matters ahead of the stretch run, but Houston's visions of a three-headed monster at the wide receiver position won't be realized beyond those opening weeks of the season.
Diggs will hope to recover in time for Week 1 of the 2025 season, and that's a realistic goal with more than 10 months to recover.
When he does return to the field, though, it might not come in a Texans uniform.
Diggs will be an unrestricted free agent after the season, and Houston has to start thinking about paying some of its younger stars.
With Collins and Tank Dell on the roster, it might be tough for the Texans to justify handing Diggs a multi-year deal.
Texans WR depth chart WR Player 1 Nico Collins* 2 Tank Dell 3 John Metchie III 4 Robert Woods 5 Xavier Hutchinson 6 Steven Sims * On IR with a hamstring injury.
With Diggs out, Collins and Dell will lead the Texans' wide receiver depth chart.
Collins is currently on IR with a hamstring injury but is expected to return for Week 10.
After Collins and Dell, the WR room is thin.
John Metchie III, Robert Woods, and Xavier Hutchinson enter Week 9 with a combined 14 catches on the season, and neither has more than 64 yards on the year.
Sims, meanwhile, has yet to record a catch.
Stroud might heavily lean on Collins and Dell once Collins is back on the field, but Metchie's three catches against the Colts indicate he might step into a major role against the Jets with Collins still sidelined.
WEEK 9 FANTASY FOOTBALL RANKINGS: QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/ST | Kickers Stefon Diggs contract Diggs is in the final year of his contract and will be a free agent in March, meaning he might have played his final game in Houston.
The Texans restructured Diggs' contract when they acquired him from the Bills, wiping out the final three years of his deal and giving him more money in 2024 to make all of the pieces fit.
Houston wasn't willing to commit to the hefty price tag that would have followed in 2025, which makes it uncertain that the Texans would bring Diggs back next season unless he's willing to settle for a smaller deal on the open market.
Collins is one reason the Texans don't have quite as much flexibility in 2025, as his new extension kicks in and jumps his cap hit from $6.6 million to $18.4 million.
Diggs figures to at least test the market, though his ACL injury could hurt his value just a bit given he'll be 31 and "questionable" for Week 1 by the time he hits free agency..
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