The Houston Texans have suffered a tough loss to their dynamic offense. Star wide receiver Nico Collins has been placed on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury.
Collins will miss at least four games.
Collins sustained the injury at the end of the first quarter of their Week 5 matchup against the Buffalo Bills. On a first-and-10 play on their won 33-yard line, Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud heaved a pass over 50 yards downfield to find the streaking Collins. He caught the ball and trotted into the end zone, but it was clear something was wrong with him as he approached the end zone.
Photo by Jack Gorman/Getty Images
The Texans earned the win, but they lost one of their best offensive players in the process. Collins is the NFL’s leading receiver with 567 yards thus far. He was on his way to a career year, but that will be hampered due to the injury.
While the injury will hurt the team, Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said that Collins is in good spirits despite the news.
“Nico, he’s in good spirits,” said Ryans on Monday. “Of course, with the hamstring, it takes a couple weeks for a hamstring, so we’ll evaluate that on a week-to-week basis to see where we can get him.”
“Nico has been the best receiver in the NFL this year. So, do you replace him? No, everybody just steps up and whatever role you’re asked to do, just step up and play your role the proper way,” Ryans said. “Nobody has to be Nico. There is one Nico, he’s done a great job of that. Now, whoever is next, when your number is called, make the plays that you are supposed to make.”
Initially, he was considered week-to-week, but the Texans decided to place him on the IR. Collins is currently first in receiving yards, third in receptions with 32, has collected three touchdowns, and is also tied with four other receivers for the NFL lead with eight receptions of at least 20 yards or more.
The Texans offense will now look for production from veteran wide receiver Stefon Diggs and second-year pass catcher Tank Dell.
Diggs is seventh in receptions (31) and finished with a game-high 82 yards in the Texans’ Week 5 win. As for Dell, his role will increase after a slow start to the season. Dell has only averaged 34 yards per game compared to last season, when he averaged 64 as a rookie.
The Texans’ next four matchups include the Patriots, Packers, Colts, and Jets. Collins will be eligible to return in Week 10 against the Detroit Lions.
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