The Houston Texans fell to the Minnesota Vikings 20-10 in their preseason opener, but third-round rookie wide receiver Jaylin Noel still opened some eyes with his showing in his NFL debut.
The second of the Texans’ two Iowa State wideouts taken in this past April’s draft, Noel has long been projected for a significant role.
He offered glimpses of why on Saturday.
Noel had a modest two receptions for 16 yards, but he took his first grab for a first down and provided enough evidence to draw attention to himself, and even bolster the faith of some who already believed he would be impactful.
“Jaylin Noel is a legit RAC weapon [looking eyes emoji],” NFL Draft Files posted on X on August 9. “The Texans have the deepest WR room in the NFL imo.”
“Jaylin Noel is slippery,” The Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan M. Alexander posted on X on August 9. “A playmaker.”
“Jaylin Noel turning nothing into something,” Battle Red Blog’s Nick Schwager posted.
Noel’s dynamic playmaking ability was a draw during the pre-draft process, and it is encouraging for the Texans that he acclimated himself so quickly, albeit in the very small sample size of one game.
Texans Rave About Jaylin Noel
Positive outside opinions are fine, but Noel is also drawing strong reviews internally, including from starting quarterback C.J. Stroud, who was a spectator on the evening. Stroud shouted out Noel among a group of Texas players who impressed him in the game.
“I think J-No looks great,” Stroud said during an in-game interview. “Higg (Jayden Higgins) looks great. I thought Davis [Mills] did a great job. Braxton [Berrios] did amazing.”
Stroud also commended the Texans’ offensive line and their effectiveness in the run game.
Noel has been impressing in training camp, showcasing his speed and hands, offering some of what the Texans are missing while third-year receiver Tank Dell is out recovering from a severe leg injury.
The Texans ranked 12th in pass attempts during the 2024 regular season. Noel’s role in the Texans’ offense is unclear, but he figures to make the most of his touches.
Texans 2nd-Round Pick Gets Honest After Modest Debut
The Texans selected Higgins with the No. 34 overall pick, 45 slots ahead of Noel. That makes it mildly notable that the former finished his debut game with two grabs for 8 yards.
Still, he reflected fondly on his first action.
“Honestly, man, it felt like it wasn’t even real out there,” Higgins told reporters on August 9. “Kind of just felt like another day of practice out there. But once I really dove into the moment, it was really awesome.
Higgins and Noel, teammates at Iowa State, join Nico Collins, offseason trade pickup Christian Kirk, and, eventually, Dell, in a diverse Texans WR room.
Competition for targets will be fierce.
That is why it is good for Higgins and Noel to get as much work as they can now, even if one or both end up logging significant snaps for the Texans right out of the gate once the regular season begins.