HOUSTON – Nico Collins is literally making a speedy recovery in his comeback from a strained hamstring.
Collins has reached 20 miles per hour in training since the injury and has quickly regained his flexibility, strength and mobility, per league sources, after getting hurt catching a touchdown pass against the Buffalo Bills and being placed on injured reserve.
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He hasn’t experienced any setbacks in his recovery.
“It’s all very encouraging,” a source said. “Nico is doing well.”
Collins, who was initially optimistic that he could return in a few weeks before a magnetic resonance imaging exam revealed enough damage to the leg that it was diagnosed as a three to four week injury, per league sources, is out for a mandatory four weeks before he can be designated for return under NFL rules. He injured the middle portion of his right hamstring.
#Texans wide receiver Nico Collins, on injured reserve with a hamstring injury and out at least two more games, is doing well in his recovery with no setbacks, per sources, and there is optimism that the original three to four week diagnosis is on 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 Sunday night game on Nov. 10 against the Detroit Lions at NRG Stadium. Collins has to miss Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts and a Thursday night road game against the New York Jets before he’s eligible to return to practice. If all goes well with no setbacks, the former third-round draft pick from the University of Michigan should be able to play against the Lions.
Without Collins, the passing game has suffered. That included a career-low 86 yards, 55 net yards, 10 of 21 passing and no touchdowns for Pro Bowl quarterback C.J. 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 dropped potential touchdown pass. Against New England, Stroud passed for 192 yards and three touchdowns with one interception with 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 catch among his seven receptions.
Collins was leading the NFL with 567 receiving yards before the injury. Without him, the focal point of the offense has shifted to running back Joe Mixon as he has hit the century mark in consecutive games.
Collins is a unique wide receiver, towering over opposing defensive backs with his superior size. His speed as a long strider eats up real estate as he regularly creates separation in the secondary. His polished routes, sound hands and ability to high-point the football by elevating over shorter competitors are all in the elite category.
RELATED: Texans placing wide receiver Nico Collins on injured reserve, to miss minimum of four games: Source
One of the most dominant and productive downfield threats in the game has been missed in a Texans passing game headlined by him and Stroud as their connection was interrupted.
Without Collins, a 6-foot-4, 222-pound speedster who has run the 40-yard dash in 4.44 seconds, the Texans have struggled to replace his production. Collins caught 32 passes before his injury and was on pace to pile up 109 catches for 1,928 yards and 10 touchdowns prior to injuring his right hamstring while catching a 67-yard touchdown pass in a win over the Bills as his leg seized up during a long touchdown catch.
“Unfortunate that we’ll not have Nico, great player, best receiver in the league,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said at the time of the injury. “He’ll be back at some point this season. Opportunity for other guys to step up and make the most of their opportunity, that’s what the league is about. A lot of guys who have stepped in when other guys are out have made a name for themselves and made some big plays in the league, so we’re looking for the same thing for whoever it may be.
“Whatever we call, whatever plays we have designed for this particular week, it’s about us operating efficiently as an offense. It’s never about one player and Nico, of course, he made a lot of big plays for us and we’re going to miss his explosive plays that he made down the field. I keep saying this: Who’s next? Who’s going to step up? Who’s going to make those plays? We’ll see.”
Life without Collins is difficult. There is no receiver like him on the roster that has his rare combination of size and speed and other traits. Diggs is an accomplished pass-catcher who hasn’t been as much of a field-stretcher recent years or been asked to do that in his current role. He is ultra reliable, though.
Diggs has 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’s been more of a short to intermediate threat.
More has fallen on Diggs’ shoulders, and Stroud without Collins, who signed a three-year, $75 million contract extension during the offseason before emerging as the most productive receiver in the game during 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 productivity down from his dynamic rookie season. Tight end Dalton Schultz has been involved sporadically in the passing game with 19 catches for 171 yards and no touchdowns. Hutchinson has four catches for 45 yards. And running backs Dare Ogunbowale (15 catches, 155 yards, one touchdown, a game-winner) and Mixon (10 catches, 83 yards, one touchdown) have contributed, too.
“With Nico out, everybody has to step up, even myself included, to pick up the slack where Nico isn’t playing,” Stroud said. “We definitely just have to hold each other accountable and just be better at that. (Diggs) is definitely going to be at the forefront of that.”
The bulk of the targets went to Collins for five games for the Texans as he was thrown to 45 times. Diggs is up to a team-high 55 targets.
“We don’t lack depth at all,” Diggs said. “We’ve got a lot of guys that can play at a high level. You just hate to see that, but, as a team, you’ve got to move forward. And there can’t be no drop-off. He’s a hell of a receiver now. It’s hard to match that talent he’s got, but, if we come in and do our job at a high level, I believe we can still be successful as an offense.”
It has been a tall order for the receiving corps to replace him.
“Losing somebody like Nico is very tough,” Stroud said. “Everyone understands that we’re going to miss him. I think they can. Definitely just next man up mentality. You have to be able to win football games without him for a little bit.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 click2houston.com.
