Why isn't Stefon Diggs playing for the Texans against the Jets on Thursday Night Football?

C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans take on Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets on the road tonight for Thursday Night Football. Unfortunately, they’ll be without their starting wide receiver Stefon Diggs.

Stefon Diggs' injury

Not only will Diggs miss this week’s game against the Jets, but he will be out for the rest of the season.

Last week, during the Texans' 23-20 victory over the Indianapolis Colts, Diggs was injured at the end of the third quarter. As Stroud completed a pass to running back Joe Mixon, Diggs cut inside a route and ended up grabbing his right knee before sitting down on the field. He was able to walk off the field, but did not return to the game.

The non-contact injury turned out to be a torn ACL that will keep the All-Pro receiver off the field throughout the remainder of this season, a huge blow to the Texans' offense, who are already without WR Nico Collins, who suffered a hamstring injury in Week 5 and was placed on IR. He will miss at least one more game.

Diggs joined the Texans this season after the Buffalo Bills traded him for a 2025 second-round pick and had become a key piece of the Houston offense. Before the injury, Diggs was seventh in the league in catches (47) and second on the team in receiving yards (496) this season.

“Hurts our team to hear that news,” said Texans head coach DeMeco Ryan. “He’s been such an important part to our team and everything that he brought, not only on the field, but off the field. The energy, the leader, the way he worked every single day. Have to pick up the slack. A lot of guys have to step up and pick up the slack. Definitely praying for him.”

Without Collins or Diggs tonight, the Texans will look to Tank Dell, Robert Woods, Xavier Hutchinson, and John Metchie III to step up in their absence. However, it’s likely that Houston will rely more heavily on Mixon and the run game.

“It‘s definitely a very unfortunate situation for [Diggs]. We are all here for him,” said Mixon. “At the end of the day, most importantly, God got him under his wing, so he is in great hands. In terms of a leadership role, that’s what they bring me here for roles like this. I’m gonna continue to do what I do best. At the end of the day, it’s only one goal, I’m saying that’s the win ultimately.”

Tonight’s game between the Texans and Jets kicks off at 8:15 p.m. ET from MetLife Stadium in Rutherford, New Jersey. Our own Dane Arlauckas will be bringing you the live text updates with scores, highlights, and commentary throughout the game right here on AS USA.