Nico Collins is on track to be back on the field for the Houston Texans in Week 4, and that’s a big development for a team trying to stop the slide before it gets any worse.
Houston has officially removed Collins from the injury report, clearing the way for him to face the Dallas Cowboys after he missed Weeks 2 and 3 with a hamstring injury. The Texans are trying to avoid an 0-4 start in the 2026 campaign, and getting their top receiver back is the kind of boost that matters immediately.
Collins was hurt in practice after Week 1, and Houston never left much suspense about his status the next two games. He was ruled out well ahead of Sunday both times. Even with the return coming now, there’s still a chance the Texans ease him in a bit, especially with his importance to the passing game so obvious when he’s healthy.
That was on display in Week 1 against Buffalo. Collins caught seven passes for 75 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets, while playing 72.2 percent of Houston’s offensive snaps. When he’s available, he’s the clear No. 1 option in this offense.
The track record backs that up. The two-time Pro Bowler has put together three straight seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards. Last year, he finished with 1,117 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games.
The matchup also lines up nicely for Houston’s passing attack. Dallas has been one of the worst defensive units in the league so far, ranking 32nd in the NFL in EPa/Play and 31st in EPA/Pass. The Cowboys are also giving up 7.2 net yards per attempt, which ranks sixth-most in the league.
That puts Collins in a strong spot for his return, especially with C.J. Stroud still producing as a passer. Stroud ranks in the top 10 in passing yards in 2026, and Collins’ usage in Week 1 showed how heavily Houston can lean on him when the game plan calls for it.
In that opener, Collins drew 10 targets in the 57 plays he was on the field. He has also averaged more than five catches per game in two of his last three completed seasons, which only adds to the case that Houston could keep the ball in the air on Sunday.
For now, the setup points to Collins stepping right back into a featured role against a defense that has been vulnerable through the air.
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