The Houston Texans have placed wide receiver Nico Collins on injured reserve after he sustained a hamstring injury during the team’s Week 5 victory against the Buffalo Bills. Collins, who leads the NFL with 567 receiving yards this season, was hurt on a 67-yard touchdown pass from quarterback C.J. Stroud. After scoring, Collins limped off the field and was unable to return for the remainder of the game. His absence will sideline him for at least four games.
Head coach DeMeco Ryans addressed the situation, acknowledging that Collins’ production will be difficult to replace. Ryans highlighted Collins’ dominant performance this season, calling him the best receiver in the NFL. He emphasized that while no one can fully step into Collins’ role, each player must step up and play their part. The team’s offensive struggles were evident after Collins exited in Week 5, as they managed just nine points for the rest of the game.
Collins has been a key factor in rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud’s impressive start to the season. When targeting Collins, Stroud has posted a passer rating of 133, leading the NFL in expected points added (EPA). Even when Collins is not targeted, Stroud’s numbers remain solid, completing 70% of his throws and maintaining a 107 passer rating. However, without Collins on the field, Stroud’s performance dips, showing no touchdowns, one interception, and a significant drop in passer rating to 72.
The Texans have also been dealing with the absence of Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon, who has missed three weeks with an ankle injury. It’s unclear if Mixon will return in Week 6 against the New England Patriots. In Collins’ absence, Stefon Diggs is expected to assume the role of the primary receiver, with wideout Tank Dell likely seeing more involvement in the offense after a slow start to his season.
Looking ahead, the Texans will face the Patriots, Packers, Colts, and Jets over the next four games. Of these opponents, only the Jets boast a top-tier pass defense, while the others rank in the bottom half of the league in terms of passing yards allowed. This presents an opportunity for the Texans to adjust their game plan without Collins, though they will need key players to step up in his absence to maintain their offensive rhythm.
