The Houston Texans have added not one, but two wide receivers from free agency after learning that second-year wideout Jayden Higgins would be missing the 2026 season with a torn ACL.According to a report from NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, the Texans are signing veteran wide receivers Sterling Shepard and Zay Jones.The two wide receivers were in Houston for a workout on Friday, and reportedly performed well in each of their showings.The #Texans are signing veteran WRs Sterling Shepard and Zay Jones, sources tell me and @RapSheet. Both impressed in a workout today and join the mix in Houston after the loss of Jayden Higgins to a torn ACL. pic.twitter.com/oYlmSVJ4BT— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) August 21, 2026Therefore, the Texans bring in both to their 90-man roster, and have a pair of veteran wide receivers who can compete for a spot past cutdown day, which now sits a little under two weeks away.What Sterling Shepard and Zay Jones Bring to HoustonThe Texans were due to add more depth at wide receiver after the Higgins injury. And with these two signings, Houston wanted to go with the approach of adding a couple of older, experienced guys to the position. Both Shepard and Jones are 31 years old or older and have at least nine years of NFL experience.Shepard comes off of two years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after spending eight seasons of his career with the New York Giants, where he found his place as a depth option at receiver.In 2025, Shepard played in 13 games to collect 39 receptions for 371 yards and a touchdowns, which turned out to be a more productive and more efficient season than his 2024 campaign in Tampa Bay.As for Jones, he's played for four franchises across his nine years in the league, most recently with the Arizona Cardinals from 2024 to 2025.Nov 9, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Zay Jones (17) reacts during the second quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectHis past two seasons in Arizona have been a little more limited compared to what he's seen in earlier seasons of his career, but he is not too far removed from his 2022 campaign with the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he saw 121 targets, 83 receptions, and over 800 receiving yards.Both might be in the back-nine of their careers with some of the better years of production behind them, but clearly, the Texans liked what they saw from both Shepard and Jones in their recent workouts, and they each could have a case to be worthy of a 53-man roster spot in Houston if they continue to perform well.What's Next in Texans' WR Room After Shepard, Jones SigningEven after the Texans decided to add a couple of veterans here in Shepard and Jones, that certainly doesn't put them out of the race to trade for another pass-catcher in the days ahead, especially as roster cuts loom closer and closer.Earlier on Friday, the Texans were linked to potential trades for New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte, as well as Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman–– according to KPRC2's Aaron Wilson–– each of which would rank ahead of Shepard and Jones in the event they came to Houston.But until the Texans decide to make another move to the position, Shepard and Jones can add a couple of wide receivers who are proven serviceable guys in the league who can compete for a roster spot in camp, and get snaps in preseason next week against the Carolina Panthers.Are either in a favorable spot to make the 53-man roster come time for next weekend's cuts? It depends on what their next week of production looks like in practice and in-game. However, based on the track record they've shown through their career and the shallowness of the Texans' wide receiver room, the chances of either of them making the cut are far from zero.Sign up for our free Houston Texans On SI newsletter, and get breaking Texans news delivered to your inbox daily!Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow