The Houston Texans have suffered a setback with the loss of wide receiver Nico Collins due to a hamstring injury during their Week 5 matchup against the Buffalo Bills, which the Texans won 23-20.
Originally, the Texans anticipated that Collins would be sidelined for a brief period. However, just three days post-injury, reports indicated that Collins has been placed on injured reserve, creating a significant gap in the team’s receiving corps.
Through the first five weeks of the season, Collins led the NFL in receiving yards with 567, establishing himself as the favorite target of quarterback C.J. Stroud. He recorded three games with over 100 receiving yards during that span.
Fortunately for Texans supporters, the team boasts a talented group of wide receivers. Here’s a look at how Houston may adapt to compensate for Collins’ absence.
Following Collins’ placement on IR, the Texans have six wide receivers on their active roster.
Stefon Diggs is expected to step up as the main beneficiary from Collins’ absence. The experienced 10-year veteran has formed a solid connection with Stroud, seeing 41 targets in the first five games, just four shy of Collins’ total. While Diggs is not primarily a deep threat like Collins, he has 31 catches for 315 yards and two touchdowns, ranking him second on the team. Diggs will likely assume the No. 1 receiver role, increasing his opportunities as he takes on some of Collins’ targets.
Tank Dell, a second-round rookie from 2023, quickly became a favorite of Stroud last season, recording 709 yards and seven touchdowns before suffering a season-ending leg injury. Although his performance has declined this season, he averaged 10.5 yards per catch, considerably lower than his rookie average of 15.1. Dell is expected to see more opportunities, having played just over half of the Texans’ offensive snaps so far.
Xavier Hutchinson seems to be ahead of Robert Woods in the team’s depth chart. The sixth-round rookie was on the field for 48 offensive snaps (71 percent) against the Bills, while Woods had 16 snaps (24 percent). With similar size to Collins, Hutchinson may be favored for his potential as an outside receiver, which is Collins’ primary role.
While Woods had a heavier workload in Week 4 when Dell was sidelined due to injury, his versatility as a No. 4 receiver allows him to fill various roles. However, he may not be the ideal replacement for Collins, who primarily operated outside.
John Metchie III, a second-round pick in 2022, has had limited playing time due to personal health challenges and has only logged 12 offensive snaps in 2024. His ability to contribute with Collins unavailable is uncertain.
Lastly, Steven Sims has had minimal involvement in the offense, recording just two snaps in four games with one carry for no yards. While he may remain active for special teams purposes, he is unlikely to take on a significant role in replacing Collins.