The Houston Texans are looking for their first-ever victory in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. They are trailing early, but their defense has given the Patriots’ offensive line fits. If the ball fell their way, it could be a different ball game. They need to score to win this one, and they are down their leading receiver so far in Dalton Schultz.
What Happened to Dalton Schultz?
Schultz made a massive reception to get the Texans’ scoring drive going. It ended in a field goal, and the tight end pulled up with a calf injury while they were in the red zone. He headed to the locker room following the drive.
Schultz had two receptions for 47 yards in the first quarter. With Nico Collins inactive, Schultz was needed to play a big role in Houston’s inexperienced receiving core. He is the 14th-ranked tight end in PFSN’s TE Impact Metric with an impact score of 80.3.
Texans TE Dalton Schultz is heading to the locker room
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) January 18, 2026
Unfortunately, he’s not out there for them right now and is ruled out for the rest of the game. He will be sorely missed, and the pressure is on for someone to step up.
.@ShariffLawFirm Texans Injury Update:
#86 TE Dalton Schultz is questionable with a calf injury.
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) January 18, 2026
The Texans are inexperienced at wide receiver. Veteran Christian Kirk is the only receiver with real NFL experience. The rest of the receiving group consists of Jaylin Noel, Xavier Hutchinson, and Jayden Higgins.
Kirk stepped up in the Wild Card round with eight catches for 144 yards and a touchdown. After Collins went down, he was immense in helping the Texans put the game out of reach. He’s made an immediate impact today after the opening drive drop.
MORE: 2026 7-Round NFL Mock Draft
Houston is going to limit this New England offense, but they’ll need a few touchdowns to win it, and Kirk reeled one in to give Houston the lead in the first half.
The Texans’ offense simply cannot turn the ball over as often as they have. C.J. Stroud may not have his best weapons, but his decision-making in the playoffs must improve. It’s putting this team in positions they should avoid.
That pick-six was one of the uglier turnovers of the season, and if these types of mistakes continue, the Texans’ season could very likely be coming to a disappointing end.
Editor’s Note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated throughout the day as more information becomes available.
