The Houston Texans received encouraging news on Friday as wide receiver Nico Collins was designated to return from injured reserve, initiating a 21-day practice period to assess his recovery and potential return to game action. While this doesn’t guarantee his immediate availability for this week’s matchup against the Detroit Lions, it brings hope that Collins could rejoin the lineup in the near future.
Collins, who has been out since October 6 with a hamstring injury, has been sorely missed. His absence, along with a season-ending injury to Stefon Diggs, has impacted quarterback C.J. Stroud and the Texans’ passing game, leading to inconsistent performances and a notable decline in offensive output. The Texans have gone 2-2 without Collins and struggled to score more than 23 points in three of those games, including a tough 23-13 loss to the New York Jets.
Prior to his injury, Collins was in top form, recording 32 receptions for 567 yards and three touchdowns over five games, averaging an impressive 17.7 yards per catch and achieving three 100-yard games. His return would not only give the Texans a key playmaker back but also relieve some of the pressure on Stroud, whose performance has been impacted by both receiver injuries and offensive line struggles. With Collins back in the mix, the Texans are hopeful of regaining their offensive rhythm as they continue to contend in the AFC South.
