The Texans don’t look like a team ready to replace Stefon Diggs before the end of the season.

When Houston Texans acquired wide receiver Stefon Diggs in an offseason trade with the Buffalo Bills, they hoped he would help improve quarterback C.J. Stroud’s play the same way he did for Bills quarterback Josh Allen.

Although he didn’t follow up his stellar rookie season with an equally impressive sophomore campaign, Stroud effectively targeted his new veteran. Through the first half of the season, Stroud completed 73 percent of his passes with a 104 passer rating while targeting Diggs.

Houston entered the 2024 season with an impressive collection of quality players, but injuries have depleted the talented offense. Diggs suffered a season-ending torn ACL on a non-contact play during Houston’s 23-20 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. Diggs grabbed his knee immediately after breaking inside on a drive in the third quarter. Before leaving the field, he sat down on the lawn. Despite his early departure, Diggs led the team with five catches for 81 yards.

Houston was already without wide receiver Nico Collins, who was placed on injured reserve in Week 5 with a hamstring injury. Without Diggs, the Texas wide receiver corps will be left without backups.

However, it remains unlikely that Houston will acquire another wide receiver before the November 5 trade deadline. according to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated.

“Diggs is an outstanding player and a loss for Houston,” Breer wrote Wednesday. “But Nico Collins is eligible to return from injured reserve next week, Tank Dell is a really good No. 2, and they have both an experienced player (Robert Woods) and a young guy with upside (John Metchie III). I’m not entirely sure Adam Thielen or Treylon Burks will be an upgrade or even an advantage over Woods and Metchie.”

Collins totaled 567 receiving yards in the first six weeks and appeared to be on track to lead the league in most major receiving categories this season. After his injury, Diggs became Houston’s No. 1 offensive lineman. His 47 catches were seventh-most in the NFL, and his 496 receiving yards were second-most on the team.

While the Texans will have to work with a temporary group for now, they should still have plenty of weapons when Collins is able to return. Sophomore wide receiver Tank Dell seemed to have a great connection with Stroud before suffering a season-ending injury in 2023. Third-year receiver John Metchie III continues to be a promising prospect, and veteran receiver Robert Woods gives the group plenty of options. experience and leadership.

While trading for a wide receiver could be an exciting move, it might be smarter for the Texans to stick with the group of players who have become familiar with Stroud and the offense this season. Houston enters Week 9 with a 6-2 record, and the win over the Colts puts them three games ahead in the AFC South division.