With the addition of former No. 4 overall pick Marvin Harrison Jr., someone in the Houston Texans' receiving room is going to see their rep count diminish.
It won't be Jaylin Noel following his performance at Wembley Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Noel proved to be a valuable part of the Texans' offense in a 34-31 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars. After showng his potential in last week's victory over the Tennessee Titans, the second-round pick looked to be the second-best option in the passing game for another weekend.
"He's continued to make big play after big play every week," Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. "The more opportunities he's gotten, the more plays he's made for our team. He had a career day today, over 100 yards, most yards in his
career. He just keeps making explosive plays.He's a true weapon for us. Happy we have him."
Jaylin Noel sold this route so well 😮💨
— NFL (@NFL) October 18, 2026
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Noel, a third-round pick out of Iowa State, has been known for his explosive plays as a downfield threat. Most times over the past two years, he's caught a pass or two for a gain of 30-plus.
But Sunday, he was more than just a big-play machine, though he did finish with the longest play from scrimmage on a 50-yard gain. Noel caught four passes for 107 yards and scored on a 13-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter to give Houston a 24-14 lead behind a strong first half from C.J. Stroud.
"It's amazing having weapons," Stroud said. "I thought Jaylin Noel was really good these last couple weeks and continuing to just wow people. We're all used to it on this team. He's been a baller."
"Explosive after explosive."
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) October 18, 2026
💥 @noel_jaylin pic.twitter.com/eLVAQwmg2D
Harrison, who caught three passes for 34 yards, is expected to be the new No. 2 option paired with Nico Collins. The Texans are also expected to add back Tank Dell later this month. And while he might only see action 2-3 snaps per game, Kayshon Boutte has proven in the past to be a promising vertical threat.
But over the past two games, Noel looks to be a valuable asset beyond life on special teams. He's on pace to finish with more receiving yards in his first seven games of Year 2 while also tying his touchdown total over the past two games.
For his efforts in London, Noel is Texans Wire's Player of the Game in Week 6. He joins Stroud, defensive end Will Anderson Jr. and running back David Montgomery as recipients of the award this season.
The Texans are back in action next Sunday against the New York Giants before the bye week. Kickoff is scheduled for Noon.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans Wire Player of the Game: WR Jaylin Noel
