Texans wideout Nico Collins will not play Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals after suffering a hamstring injury. Collins — a two-time Pro Bowler who caught seven passes for 75 yards and a touchdown in the season opener loss to Buffalo — was hurt in Wednesday practice and, per KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson, has a Grade 1 hamstring strain; he missed practice Thursday and Friday.
Houston’s receiving corps is paper-thin entering a matchup with one of the NFL’s deepest groups. Tank Dell remains on injured reserve as he recovers from a severe knee injury that shortened his 2024 season and cost him all of 2025. The Texans also lost second-year receiver Jayden Higgins to a torn ACL in training camp. Houston added Kayshon Boutte in a trade with New England this summer, but he managed just one catch in Week 1 and profiles primarily as a vertical threat — last season with the Patriots he had more than three receptions in only three of 14 regular-season games.
With Collins out, the Texans will need increased target volume from the remaining pass-catchers if Sunday turns into another shootout. Houston’s defense gave up 36 points to Josh Allen and the Bills and now faces the task of containing Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. The receivers available to C.J. Stroud include Boutte, Xavier Hutchinson, Jared Wayne and Jaylin Noel.
Noel, a second-year player from Iowa State taken in the third round last year, caught two passes for 53 yards against Buffalo and finished his rookie campaign with 26 catches for 292 yards and two touchdowns. He — and running back David Montgomery, who can contribute in both the running and passing games — will likely be asked to play bigger roles on Sunday.
Fan take: This is a big deal for NFL fans because it exposes how fragile depth charts are and could swing the outcome against a Bengals team with elite receiving weapons. It also underscores the growing importance of versatile backups and roster construction in a league where injuries can reshape a season overnight.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
