Texans, trying to avoid 0-3 start, rule out WR Collins again
DJ Bien-AimeSep 25, 2026, 04:01 PM ET
- DJ Bien-Aime covers the Houston Texans for ESPN. He joined ESPN in July of 2022 after covering the New York Jets for the New York Daily News. He's a former athlete who finished his college career at Louisville. You can catch DJ on ESPN Radio on his show "Talkin' Texans."
HOUSTON -- The Texans will be without Pro Bowl wideout Nico Collins for the second straight week when they travel to face the Colts.
Collins did not practice this week and was ruled out Friday.
The injury isn't nearly as severe as his hamstring injury from 2024, when he landed on injured reserve after Week 5 and missed five games. Collins' next chance to play will be when Houston host the Dallas Cowboys in Week 4.
The Texans have struggled at times to score without their No. 1 wideout, including during last week's 20-6 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals when quarterback C.J. Stroud threw for 353 yards but Houston never reached the end zone. Houston has averaged 16 points in the past three games that Collins has missed because of injury.
The biggest key in the struggles is receivers stepping up in Collins' absence. In those three games, no receiver has eclipsed 70 receiving yards and only three have gone over 55.
Tight end Dalton Schultz produced in a big way against the Bengals, totaling 140 yards on 12 receptions. But no other receiver eclipsed 37 yards.
Houston will rely on wideouts Xavier Hutchinson, Jaylin Noel, Jared Wayne and Kayshon Boutte to make life easier whenever Stroud tries to throw outside the numbers. The Texans also need their running game to produce. Last week, running backs Woody Marks and David Montgomery totaled 18 yards on 14 carries.
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