HOUSTON – Nico Collins is literally recovering quickly after returning from a hamstring strain.
Collins has reached 20 mph in practice since the injury and quickly regained his flexibility, strength and mobility, according to league sources, after he was injured while catching a touchdown pass against the Buffalo Bills and was placed on injured reserve.
He did not face any setbacks in his recovery.
“It’s all very encouraging,” a source said. “Nico’s doing well.”
Collins, who was initially optimistic he could be back in a few weeks before an MRI test revealed enough damage to the leg that it was diagnosed as a three- to four-week injury, according to league sources, will miss a mandatory four weeks before that. . He could be set to return under NFL rules. He injured the middle part of his right hamstring.
#Texas Wide receiver Nico Collins, who has a hamstring injury and is out at least two more games, is doing well in his recovery with no setbacks, according to sources, and there is optimism that the original three- to four-week prognosis is on the right track. @KPRC2 https://t.co/fzl01k4XRM
– Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) October 23, 2024
Collins has been sidelined for the past two games against the Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots and is on track to return for a high-profile game on Sunday night on November 10 against the Detroit Lions at NRG Stadium. Collins must miss Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts and Thursday night’s road game against the New York Jets before he is eligible to return to practice. If all goes well without any setbacks, the former third-round pick out of the University of Michigan should be able to play against the Lions.
Without Collins, the passing game suffered. That included a career-low 86 receiving yards, 55 net yards, 10 of 21 passing and no touchdowns by Pro Bowl quarterback CJ Stroud during a 24-22 road loss to the Packers at Lambeau Field last Sunday. Wide receiver Stefon Diggs led the team with five catches, but for just 23 yards while Xavier Hutchinson was the only other wide receiver to catch a pass as Tank Dell went 0-for-4 on his targets with one potential touchdown pass. Against New England, Stroud passed for 192 yards and three touchdowns with one interception on long completions of 26, 20 and 20 yards as Diggs finished with six receptions for 77 yards and one score and Dell had a touchdown among his seven receptions.
Collins was leading the NFL with 567 yards receiving before the injury. Without him, the focal point of the offense turned to running back Joe Mixon as he reached the century mark in back-to-back games.
Collins is a unique wide receiver, towering over opposing defensive backs with his superior size. His speed as a long player eats up real estate as he regularly creates separation in the secondary. His polished ways, sound hands, and ability to make the football stand out by lifting shorter opponents all belong in the elite category.
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One of the game’s most dominant and productive threats was missed in the Texans’ passing game headlined by him and Stroud as their contact broke down.
Without Collins, the 6-foot-4, 222-pound speedster who covered the 40-yard dash in 4.44 seconds, the Texans struggled to replace his production. Collins caught 32 passes before his injury and was on pace to compile 109 passes for 1,928 yards and 10 touchdowns before injuring his right hamstring while catching a 67-yard touchdown pass in a win over the Bills as his leg gave out during a long touchdown catch.
“It’s unfortunate that we won’t have Nico, a great player and the best receiver in the league,” Texans coach DeMico Ryans said at the time of the injury. “He will be back at some point this season. An opportunity for other players to step up and make the most of their opportunity, that’s what the league is about. A lot of players who have stepped in in the absence of other players have made a name for themselves and made some big games in the league, so we’re looking for the same thing.” To whomever it may be.
“Whatever we call it, whatever plays we design for this particular week, it’s about working efficiently up front. It’s never about one player and Nico, of course, made a lot of big passes for us and we’ll miss the explosive plays he made down the field. I keep saying this: “Who’s next? Who’s going to make those plays? We’ll see.”
Life without Collins is difficult. There is no receiver like him on the roster who has that rare combination of size, speed and other attributes. Diggs is an accomplished pass catcher and has not been a field stretcher in recent years or been asked to do so in his current position. However, it is very reliable.
Diggs caught a team-high 42 passes for 415 yards and three touchdowns, setting a season pace of 102 receptions, 1,008 yards and seven touchdowns. He was more than just a short to medium threat.
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More falls on Diggs’ shoulders, and Stroud is without Collins, who signed a three-year, $75 million contract extension during the offseason before becoming the most productive receiver in the game through the first five weeks of the season.
Dell is the third-leading receiver behind Diggs and Collins with 20 catches for 194 yards and one score with his production down from his dynamic rookie season. Dalton Schultz was involved sporadically in the passing game with 19 catches for 171 yards and no touchdowns. Hutchinson has four catches for 45 yards. Running backs Dare Ogunbowale (15 catches, 155 yards, one touchdown, game-winner) and Mixon (10 catches, 83 yards, one touchdown) also contributed.
“With Nico out, everyone has to step up, including myself, to pick up the slack where Nico is not playing,” Stroud said. “We definitely have to hold each other accountable and be better at that. (Diggs) will definitely be at the forefront of that.
The bulk of the targets went to Collins in five games for the Texans in which he was thrown 45 times. Diggs reaches 55 team goals.
“We’re not lacking depth at all,” Diggs said. “We have a lot of guys who can play at a high level. You hate to see that, but as a team, you have to move forward. There can’t be any take-offs. He’s a hell of a receiver right now. It’s hard to match up to the talent he has, but if we come in and do our job At a high level, I think we can still succeed in attack.
It was a tall order for the receiving corps to replace him.
“Losing someone like Nico is very difficult,” Stroud said. “Everyone knows we’re going to miss him. I think they can. Definitely just the next man up mentality. You’ve got to be able to win football games without him for a while.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texas and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 click2houston.com.
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