Admin November 18, 2024
Bills hand Chiefs their first loss, Steelers atop the AFC North
Mackenzie Salmon breaks down the top storylines from Week 11 in the NFL.
Sports Seriously
After losing two in a row, the Houston Texans are 6-4 entering Week 11. Houston remains atop the AFC South, but it’s been without top receiver Nico Collins since Week 5 when he suffered a hamstring injury that knocked him out of the game.
Houston ultimately placed Collins on injured reserve, and he has missed the last five games. With Collins out, Stefon Diggs assumed the No. 1 role, but he suffered a season-ending torn ACL in Week 8. The Texans‘ offense has dropped their last two games without Diggs or Collins, so his potential return would provide a significant boost to C.J. Stroud.
Here’s the latest on Nico Collins’ hamstring injury and potential return on “Monday Night Football” against the Dallas Cowboys.
Nico Collins injury update
Collins is off the injury report and expected to take on a full workload tonight against the Cowboys.
The Texans designated Collins for return from injured reserve last Friday before their Week 10 game against the Detroit Lions on “Sunday Night Football,” which marked the earliest Collins could return after being placed on IR.
Despite being activated on Saturday before Week 10’s matchup, he was inactive against the Lions, setting up Week 11 as his first possible game action since injuring his hamstring.
In preparation for Week 11’s matchup against the Cowboys on Monday night, Collins managed a limited session on Thursday, followed by a full participation on Friday.
“I feel like myself. It was hard on my mental,” Collins told Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston.
Texans WR depth chart
The Texans have five healthy receivers on their 53-man roster after Diggs’ season-ending ACL injury. Here is a look at the pecking order among that group:
- Nico Collins
- Tank Dell
- Xavier Hutchinson
- Robert Woods
- John Metchie III
- Steven Sims
Dell filled in as Houston’s No. 1 receiver with Diggs and Collins out. The second-year pro was a second-round draft pick in 2023 and has 82 catches for 1,103 yards and nine touchdowns in 20 career games. The 5-10, 165-pound receiver is a speedster and will benefit as a No. 2 option for C.J. Stroud.
Hutchinson and Woods have received more snaps while Collins has been out, with the latter having more NFL experience. With Collins returning, they will split time as the team’s No. 3 receiver. Woods has not exceeded 50% of snaps in any game without Nico, whereas Hutchinson has been on the field for over 75% of snaps over the last two games.
Metchie is coming off a career-best five receptions for 74 yards and a touchdown, so he could also work into the rotation. He appears to have developed chemistry with Stroud. It would not be a shock if the former second-round pick from 2022 leapfrogged Hutchinson and Woods for the No. 3 role.
When was Nico Collins’ injury?
Nico Collins was injured in the Texans’ Week 5 matchup against the Bills at home. He left the game at the end of the first quarter.
Collins injured his hamstring on the same play he reeled in a 67-yard touchdown catch from C.J. Stroud. After the catch, he appeared to let up on his way into the end zone.
Nico Collins stats
Collins led the NFL in receiving yards through five weeks with 567 yards. Below is a full look at his stats from the 2024 season:
- Targets: 45
- Catches: 32
- Yards: 567
- TDs: 3
- Yards per reception: 17.7
Collins has three games with at least 100 receiving yards and has recorded at least 78 yards in each of his five games.