Texans star wide receiver Nico Collins is fast-tracking his recovery from a hip injury

Texans star wide receiver Nico Collins is fast-tracking his recovery from a hip injury

HoustonNico Collins In fact, he recovers quickly from a strained hamstring.

Collins has hit 20 mph in practice since the injury and quickly regained his flexibility, strength and mobility after being injured catching a ball against the Buffalo Bills and being placed on injured reserve.

“It’s all very encouraging,” the source said. “Nico is doing well.”

Collins, who was initially optimistic he could return in a few weeks before an MRI scan determined enough damage to his leg, was diagnosed with a three- to four-week injury, according to league sources, to be out four weeks without necessarily working. he may be designated for reinstatement under NFL rules. He injured the middle part of his right hamstring.

Collins sat out the last two games against the Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots and is on track to return to action Sunday night, Nov. 10, against the Detroit Lions at NRG Stadium. Collins will have to miss Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts and Thursday night’s road game against the New York Jets to return to practice. If all goes well without setbacks, the former University of Michigan third-round pick should be able to play against the Lions.

The passing game has suffered without Collins. That included a career-low 86 yards, 55 passing yards, 10-of-21 passing and no touchdowns for Pro Bowl quarterback CJ Stroud in last Sunday’s 24-22 road loss to the Packers at Lambeau Field. Wide receiver Stefon Diggs had a team-high five catches, but only for 23 yards, and Xavier Hutchinson was the only wide receiver to catch a pass as Tank Dell went 0-for-4 on his targets, with one potential touchdown. Against New England, Stroud passed for 192 yards and three touchdowns with one interception on long completions of 26, 20 and 20 yards, as Diggs finished with six receptions for 77 yards and a score and Dell caught a touchdown among his seven receptions.

Collins led the NFL with 567 receiving yards before the injury. Without him, the focal point of the offense shifted to running back Joe Mixon as he reached the century mark in consecutive games.

Collins is an exceptional wide receiver, towering over opposing defensive backs with his large size. As a long runner, his speed eats up real estate as he constantly creates separation in the secondary. His polished routes, healthy hands and ability to high-ball the football by outplaying shorter opponents are elite.

RELATED: Texans place wide receiver Nico Collins on injured reserve to miss at least four games: Source

One of the most dominant and productive downfield threats in the game is a Texans the passing of the game that he and Stroud led as they lost contact.

Without the 6-foot-4, 222-pound Collins, who ran the 40-yard dash in 4.44 seconds, the Texans struggled to replace his production. Collins caught 32 passes before the injury and was on pace to rack up 109 catches for 1,928 yards and 10 tackles before injuring his right hamstring, and caught a 67-yard pass in a win over the Bills when his leg caught up for a long time. landing

“Unfortunately, we won’t have Niko, a great player, the best receiver in the league,” Texas coach DeMeco Ryans said of the injury. “He will be back at some point this season. That’s what the league is all about, making the most of other guys’ chances and making the most of them. A lot of guys that have been in the mix when other guys have come out have made a name for themselves and made big plays in the league, so we’re looking for the same thing, whoever it is.

“Whatever we call, whatever plays we make this week, it’s about us being efficient as an offense. It’s never about one player and Nico, of course he made a lot of big plays for us and we’ll miss the explosive plays he made on the field. I mean, who’s next? Who will rise? Who puts on these plays? We will see”

Life is hard without Collins. There is no receiver on the roster with his rare size and speed and other attributes. Diggs is a very good passer who hasn’t been a field stretcher in recent years or asked to do so in his current role. However, it is very reliable.

Diggs caught a team-high 42 passes for 415 yards and three touchdowns, setting a season pace for 102 receptions, 1,008 yards and seven touchdowns. It was short and intermediate dangerous.

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Without Collins, Stroud, who signed a three-year, $75 million contract extension in the offseason before emerging as the game’s most productive receiver in the first five weeks of the season, fell more on the shoulders of Diggs.

Dell is the third-leading receiver behind Diggs and Collins, with 20 catches for 194 yards and one score off his dynamic rookie season. Tight end Dalton Schultz was sporadic in the passing game with 19 catches for 171 yards and no touchdowns. Hutchinson has four catches for 45 yards. Running backs Dare Ogunbowale (15 catches, 155 yards, one touchdown, game-winner) and Mixon (10 catches, 83 yards, one touchdown) also contributed.

“When Nico is out, everyone, myself included, has to pick up the slack where Nico isn’t playing,” Stroud said. “We certainly have to hold each other accountable and be better for it. (Diggs) will definitely be at the forefront of that.”

The bulk of the targets went to Collins in five games for Texas as he was thrown 45 times. Diggs has a team-high 55 targets.

“We don’t have any depth at all,” Diggs said. “We have a lot of guys who can play at a high level. You hate to see it happen, but you have to move forward as a team. And there can be no shooting. He’s a great receiver now. It’s hard to match his talent, but if we come in and do our job at a high level, I think we can still be successful as an offense.”

The receiving corps had a tall order to replace him.

“Losing someone like Nico is very difficult,” Stroud said. “Everyone knows we will miss him. I think they can. Definitely the next man up mentality. You have to be able to win football games without him a little bit.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texas and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 click2houston.com.

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