The Houston Texans are sweating big time, with star wide receiver Nico Collins getting limited practice on Wednesday due to a hamstring injury. This isn’t what you want to hear for a top offensive weapon, especially with Week 2 just around the corner.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter dropped the news about Collins’ limited session, and KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson noted tests are happening to figure out how serious this really is. Collins was absolutely cooking in Week 1, grabbing seven receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown in their 36-31 loss to the Buffalo Bills. That’s the kind of production you simply can’t lose. The dude has been a beast for Houston, coming off three straight seasons with over 1,000 receiving yards, including 1,117 yards and six scores last year as the Texans made the playoffs for the third year running. Losing that kind of veteran impact for even one game is a gut punch.
The Good News and the Looming Problem for Houston
There’s a tiny glimmer of hope: Collins was still able to go through individual drills. So, hopefully, his mobility isn’t completely shot, and this isn’t some season-ending nightmare like what happened to Jayden Higgins, who tore his ACL in August. Higgins was their third-leading receiver as a rookie, and losing him before the season even started was brutal. While Collins’ situation doesn’t sound as dire, it’s still a huge watch heading into Sunday.
Who Steps Up Against a Solid Bengals Offense?
If Collins can’t suit up, the Texans are looking at Kayshon Boutte and Xavier Hutchinson to pick up the slack. Boutte only had one catch for 21 yards in Week 1, and Hutchinson managed three receptions for 32 yards. Those numbers don’t exactly scream “replace a 1,000-yard receiver.” This is especially tough because the Texans are up against a Cincinnati Bengals offense that looked seriously good in their Week 1 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Trying to keep pace with the Bengals without Collins? That’s going to be a massive uphill battle. Every snap will matter Sunday, and Houston needs someone to step up big.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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