Houston Texans star receiver Nico Collins practiced at the end of last week but didn't return to the lineup in Sunday's dramatic home loss to the Detroit Lions. Coach DeMeco Ryans said Tuesday that the decision to keep Collins sidelined wasn't due to any complications from his hamstring injury.
"No setback with Nico, that was just a game-time decision," Ryans said on Tuesday, via the team's official transcript.
Ryans added: "Yeah, I anticipate him practicing (this week)."
Despite Collins not playing since the first quarter of Week 5, the big-play wideout still leads the Texans in receiving yards (567) and is tied for the team lead with three touchdowns.
The Texans are 2-3 since Collins suffered a hamstring injury in Week 5 (started 4-1).
C.J. Stroud's numbers with and without Collins on the field are stark (per Next Gen Stats):
- On the field: 151 dropbacks; 70.5 completion percentage; 8.5 pass yards/attempt; 7-2 TD-INT ratio; 107.0 passer rating
- Off the field: 237 dropbacks; 57.9 completion percentage; 6.4 pass yards/attempt; 5-4 TD-INT ratio; 77.1 passer rating
The hope is Collins' potential return in Week 11 against Dallas on Monday night jumpstarts a stalled offense.
"Any time you get a starting receiver back and Nico, a guy who's been -- before he was out, he was the top receiver in the league," Ryans said. "So, I think any time you get him back, it's going to help everybody."
How teams have matched up when Collins plays is also of note. Opponents have blitzed on 35.0 percent of dropbacks with Collins off the field and just 23.8 percent when he is on the field in 2024, per Next Gen Stats. Stroud has been pressured on 46.4 percent of dropbacks with Collins off the field and 33.8 percent with him on the field.
The Texans' second-half lulls have been notorious in recent weeks. Sunday, they scored zero points, allowing the Lions to make a roaring comeback.
Ryans dismissed the idea that the issues have been defensive coach adjusting -- noting that that happens in every phase all game -- and believes his club simply needs to execute.
"A lot of people can focus on whatever adjustments defenses make, but it's about us and our focus and our execution and I'll continue to speak about that because that's the only thing that matters to me is the Texans and how we execute and how we operate," he said. "And right now, first half, we had some really good things that happened that wasn't all perfect and the second half of the game, we didn't execute the right way. We couldn't get plays started. We got penalties, we got negative plays, we're not blocking the right people on our assignments. So, let's do that right and then let's see how we can play and finish in the second half."
Getting Collins back could go a long way in the Texans finishing in the second half.
