The NFL's current leading receiver is headed for a month off.
Houston Texans wideout Nico Collins (hamstring) has been placed on injured reserve, the team announced on Wednesday. He will miss the next four games before he is eligible to return to the active roster.
Collins suffered a hamstring injury during Houston's 23-20 win over Buffalo on Sunday, exiting after catching a 67-yard touchdown pass from C.J. Stroud. He did not return to the game, and Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans told reporters on Monday he considered Collins' injury to be a week-to-week matter.
With their decision to place Collins on IR, the Texans are wisely giving Collins extended time to heal an injury that tends to be more delicate than others. They're also proceeding forward without a receiver who leads the NFL in receiving yards with 567 -- a number reached on just 32 catches for an average of 17.7 yards per reception -- and is tied for sixth in the league in receiving touchdowns with three.
Fortunately for Houston, they still have the other half of their receiving duo: offseason acquisition Stefon Diggs, who has gained 315 yards and scored two receiving touchdowns on 31 catches, and chipped in another score on the ground in a Week 4 win over Jacksonville. Tank Dell remains available at slot receiver, and has already proven to have a rapport with fellow 2023 draft classmate Stroud, having caught 13 passes for 137 yards one year after racking up 47 receptions for 709 yards and seven touchdowns in 11 games. Tight end Dalton Schultz will also play a key role, catching 14 passes for 116 yards so far this season.
Collins' absence will force Houston to adjust, eliminating Stroud's favorite target dating back to the 2023 preseason. Judging by their performance so far, though, they should be able to manage -- especially if the health of their backfield improves in the interim.
The Texans' first game without Collins will be this Sunday at the New England Patriots.
