The Houston Texans are traveling to play the Los Angeles Chargers in the season opener on Sunday. And it already looks like rookie wide receiver Jaylin Noel will be thrust into a larger role in Week 1.
Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reported that WR Braxton Berrios has a hamstring injury that will keep him sidelined for the short term, beginning with Week 1. On top of that, Christian Kirk is also dealing with a hamstring injury and is expected to be out for one to two weeks.
With these two players set to begin the season on the sideline, the Texans will lean on Noel to step in as a return man and slot WR.
Jaylin Noel Will Have Multiple Roles for Texans in Week 1
The Texans planned to have Berrios handle punt returns and be a depth slot WR. Kirk was slated to be the starter in the slot for Houston, but thankfully for them, they added Noel in the 2025 NFL draft.
In his college career, Noel tallied 466 punt return yards and 821 kick return yards. As a pass-catcher, he had 2,855 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns. That performance showed his ability to be a versatile playmaker for Iowa State, and now he seeks to do the same for the Texans early in the season.
The NFL is all about availability. Being able to suit up and play is the most important asset. As of right now, Berrios and Kirk are dealing with injuries that only create more reps for the rookie. And considering the Texans used the 79th overall pick on him, they believe in his ability.
Houston will have Nico Collins and Jayden Higgins on the outside. They both stand at 6'4, so using their size on the boundaries makes sense. Having a shifty Noel chew up reps in the slot is the logical approach. The Texans didn't plan on having the rookie take control of both spots to start the season, but things are always changing on the fly in the NFL.
Noel is being presented with a golden opportunity to seize these roles. While both injured WRs can return and take their spots back, the Texans may be forced to find a way to keep Noel on the field if his play stands out.
Noel is still a rookie and there's a learning curve to playing in the NFL, but the 23-year-old will be thrust into action on Sunday, making it interesting to see if he will sink or swim.