The Houston Texans just got hit with a major blow for their Week 2 clash against the Cincinnati Bengals, with Pro Bowl receiver Nico Collins not expected to play. This comes after Collins sustained a Grade 1 hamstring injury during Wednesday’s practice, putting him on the injury report and leaving the team scrambling to avoid an 0-2 start after their Week 1 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Collins Sidelined, Leaving Receiver Room Thin
The news on Collins isn’t official yet, but Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reported on Friday that a league source confirms he won’t be suiting up Sunday. This is a tough pill to swallow for a Texans team already without Jayden Higgins for the entire year and still waiting on Tank Dell to return. With Collins out, the Texans will likely be missing their top two pass-catchers for this critical early-season game. It’s a rough start, and losing a Pro Bowl talent to a hamstring issue, even a Grade 1, is never easy.
Bengals Defense Awaits a Short-Handed Offense
Now C.J. Stroud has to face a reimagined Bengals defense without his best target. The Texans will rely on David Montgomery, Xavier Hutchinson, Dalton Schultz, and Kayshon Boutte to step up as primary playmakers. Going 0-2 to kick off the season makes making the playoffs a tricky proposition, and Houston is forced to try and avoid that scenario without their best offensive weapon. It’s a huge challenge to overcome, especially against a solid Cincinnati squad.
Collins’ status for Week 3 is still up in the air. While it’s more likely he could return then, this Week 2 absence is a definite setback. The Texans have to find a way to make it happen against the Bengals, or that 0-2 hole gets real deep, real fast.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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