Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals after a hamstring injury kept him out of practice all week, and the timing is raising uncomfortable memories for Texans fans who remember exactly how this played out two years ago. Collins suffered the injury during Wednesday’s practice and did not participate Thursday or Friday, a pattern that already looks familiar to anyone who followed his 2024 season.
Why is Nico Collins out for Week 2?
Collins caught seven passes for 75 yards and a touchdown in Houston’s season opening loss to Buffalo last week, showing no signs of trouble before the injury surfaced in practice days later. Along with Collins, Houston also ruled out starting guard Ed Ingram, edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney and linebacker Jake Hummel, leaving the Texans thin at multiple positions heading into a home matchup against Cincinnati.
Has Collins dealt with this before?
He has, and the last time it happened, it turned into a season altering absence. Back in October 2024, Collins suffered a hamstring injury on a 67 yard touchdown catch against the Bills, was initially labeled day to day, then shifted to week to week within 24 hours, and ultimately landed on injured reserve for four games. At the time, Collins was leading the entire NFL in receiving yards, and Houston’s offense noticeably sputtered without him on the field. That history is exactly why this week’s absence carries more weight than a routine one game injury designation might suggest.
Who steps up in Collins’ absence?
Houston’s receiver room has to answer that question again. With Collins sidelined, Jaylin Noel, Xavier Hutchinson and Kayshon Boutte become the top three options for quarterback C.J. Stroud, while tight end Dalton Schultz should see extra targets funneled his way. None of that group replicates what Collins provides as Houston’s clear top target, but it echoes exactly what the Texans had to lean on during his 2024 absence, when the offense had to spread the ball around rather than rely on one dominant receiver.
What else is banged up for Houston?
Collins is far from the only concern heading into Sunday. Clowney is dealing with a knee issue and Hummel a groin injury, both sidelining them alongside Collins and Ingram, who was limited Thursday with a groin problem of his own before sitting out entirely Friday. On a brighter note, offensive tackle Trent Brown and linebacker Wade Woodaz both practiced fully Friday despite lingering hand, wrist and thumb issues, and both are expected to play against Cincinnati.
Could this turn into more than one missed game?
That is the real question hanging over Houston heading into Sunday. Team doctors have not signaled anything close to the severity of the 2024 injury, and this one surfaced in practice rather than during a game, which is typically a less alarming sign. Still, hamstring injuries have a habit of lingering longer than expected, and Collins‘ own history with this exact issue means the Texans, and fantasy managers everywhere, will be watching his next few practice reports closely before assuming this is a true one week absence.
