The Texans are heading into Week 2 with a real challenge on their hands, and it got tougher on Friday. Nico Collins is not expected to play against the Bengals after showing up on the injury report Wednesday with a hamstring issue.
Houston is already dealing with a thin receiver room. Jayden Higgins is out for the year, and Tank Dell still hasn’t returned. That leaves the Texans in a spot where they could be without their top two wideouts for their second game of the season.
Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reported the latest setback this way: "Texans Pro Bowl receiver Nico Collins not practicing Friday morning, and not expected to play Sunday after sustaining a Grade 1 hamstring injury Wednesday during practice, per league source,"
It’s a tough break for a team trying to bounce back after its Week 1 loss to the Buffalo Bills and avoid an 0-2 start. Collins’ hamstring injury appears serious enough to sideline him at least for this week, even if he has not been officially ruled out yet.
Without him, C.J. Stroud and the Texans will have to attack a reimagined Bengals defense leaning on David Montgomery, Xavier Hutchinson, Dalton Schultz, and Kayshon Boutte as the main options in the passing game.
The bigger picture isn’t pretty, either. Falling to 0-2 would make the path forward a lot harder, and Houston may have to try to keep that from happening without its best offensive player.
As for Collins, Week 3 could be a more realistic target, though his status will remain unsettled for now after the injury he suffered in Wednesday’s practice.
In Other News...
Texans Defense Suddenly Has A Clowney Concern Before Bengals Game
Jadeveon Clowneys status has become a small but meaningful concern for the Texans as they turn their attention to the Bengals. The veteran edge rusher was limited in practice because of a knee injury, a development worth watching for a defense that could use all the disruption it can get after its Week 1 issues.
Clowney was one of the brighter spots in the opener, even as Houstons defense struggled overall, so any setback with his availability changes the conversation around this matchup. The Texans will keep monitoring him leading up to the game, and whether he can suit up against Cincinnati is now one of the more important injury storylines on their side. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Suddenly Have A C.J. Stroud Protection Problem Before Bengals Game
The Texans are heading into Week 2 with a little more uncertainty around the edges than they would like, and it starts with the availability of two important pieces on offense. Nico Collins has been dealing with a Grade 1 hamstring injury, while right guard Ed Ingram has missed multiple practices because of a groin issue, putting some pressure on Houstons protection plans before Sundays matchup with the Bengals.
Any time a receiver like Collins is limited, it changes how defenses can be handled, but the bigger concern in Houston is how these injuries ripple through the offensive line and the overall rhythm of the unit. Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney has also sat out several practices with a knee injury, adding another name to the list of Texans trying to get right in time for a game that already looks like it could demand a cleaner, sturdier performance up front. [Read more 🡒]
DeForest Buckners Return Could Change Everything For The Colts Defense
DeForest Buckners return to full participation in Colts training camp has given Indianapolis a much-needed boost, especially after he acknowledged he had seriously considered retirement while dealing with multiple injuries. For a defense that leans so heavily on his presence, getting Buckner back on the field changes the tone around the unit and gives head coach Shane Steichen a proven leader to build around as camp moves forward.
For Houston, it is also a reminder of how quickly the AFC South picture can shift when a rivals defensive centerpiece is healthy. Texans coach DeMeco Ryans has already been in the position of defending C.J. Stroud after a rough outing, pointing more to defensive breakdowns than to the quarterbacks turnovers, and matchups with Indianapolis figure to carry plenty of weight if Buckner is back to anchoring that front the way the Colts expect. [Read more 🡒]