UPDATE: Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins is trending towards missing the crucial playoff game against the New England Patriots this Sunday, January 14, 2024. Collins, 26, did not participate in practice on Thursday as the Texans finalize preparations for their Divisional round clash.
Collins exited the Wild Card victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers with a concussion and is currently in the NFL’s concussion protocol. With only one practice opportunity remaining on Friday, indications suggest Collins is increasingly unlikely to take the field against the Patriots.
ESPN Texans correspondent DJ Bien-Aime reported on X, “Texans WR Nico Collins is not at practice today. That almost slams the door on him playing this week against the Patriots.”
The absence of Collins could have a significant impact on the Texans, who are riding a remarkable 10-game winning streak thanks to the stellar performance of quarterback C.J. Stroud. In his career, Stroud has played eight games without Collins, posting a passer rating of 85.9 with nine touchdowns and five interceptions.
“We’re hoping Nico can play, but if not, we’ve had this experience before, played a couple games this year without him, sadly,” Stroud stated on Thursday. He expressed confidence in the depth of the receiving corps, adding, “All our guys are talented; we have a lot of depth in that room.”
Filling the void left by Collins, wide receiver Christian Kirk shone in Pittsburgh, achieving a career-high 144 receiving yards and setting a franchise postseason record. Should Collins be unable to play, Stroud is likely to rely heavily on Kirk as his primary target, with rookie Jayden Higgins also in the mix for passes.
“I was really happy for Christian knowing the type of guy that he is,” said Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans. “He’s one of the best guys in our locker room and he works extremely hard throughout the week. He’s been grinding all season to be an impact player for us.”
Stroud praised Kirk’s perseverance throughout the season, stating, “I think he’s one of the best in the league. We’ve tried to find ways to get him the ball. For him to keep going week in and week out, prepping the right way, to see it pay off was really dope. Super proud of him.”
As the Texans prepare for what could be a pivotal playoff game, all eyes will be on Friday’s practice to see if Collins can make a surprise return. If not, Stroud and the Texans will need to adapt quickly as they face a formidable Patriots team in their quest for postseason glory.
