The Houston Texans have suffered a significant blow to their offense, placing star wide receiver Nico Collins on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury sustained in Week 5. Collins, who leads the league with an impressive 567 receiving yards, will be sidelined for at least the next four games.
The injury occurred when quarterback C.J. Stroud connected with Collins for a 67-yard touchdown, putting the Texans up 14-3 against the Buffalo Bills. However, Collins was forced to limp off the field and did not return to the game.
Coach DeMeco Ryans described Collins’ injury as “week-to-week” and emphasized that replacing his production will require a collective effort from the team. “Nico has been phenomenal this season, but we can’t rely on one player to carry the load. Everyone needs to step up and play their role to the best of their ability,” Ryans said.
The Texans struggled to replace Collins in Week 5, scoring only nine points after his exit. This season, their offense has been inconsistent, ranking 19th in scoring offense with an average of 20 points per game.
Quarterback C.J. Stroud has been heavily reliant on Collins, with a passer rating of 133 when targeting him. The duo has led the NFL in expected points added, with 34.6. However, when Collins is off the field, Stroud’s passer rating drops to 72, with zero touchdowns and an interception.
The Texans will also be without Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon, who has missed the past three weeks with an ankle injury. His status for Week 6 against the New England Patriots remains uncertain.
In Collins’ absence, Stefon Diggs will take on the No. 1 receiver role, having finished with a game-high 82 yards in Week 5. Tank Dell’s role is also expected to increase, despite a quiet start to the season.
The Texans face a challenging schedule over the next four games, with matchups against the New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, and New York Jets. Only the Jets boast a top-five pass defense, allowing just 136 yards per game. The Colts, Packers, and Patriots all rank in the bottom half of the league in pass defense, allowing 262.2, 231.6, and 239.0 yards per game, respectively.
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