Tag: Nico Collins

Texans WR Nico Collins knows there’s a ‘job to do’ in 2025

Nico Collins knows the job is not finished for the Houston Texans after missing the conference championship in 2025.

Nico Collins is ready for the 2025 season to begin after the Houston Texans failed to reach the Super Bowl in 2024.

Collins, the Texans’ star receiver, saw a similar ending to his breakout 2023 campaign amid C.J. Stroud’s second season. A 10-7 finish in the regular season led to a playoff win at home.

That led to a loss in the divisional round against the top-seeded roster in the AFC despite it being a one-score game entering halftime.

Collins plans to attack the offseason in stride. This year might have gone south, but it’s more because of the talent lost rather than the loss of internal belief.

“Due to a lot of injuries, we kind of went down,” Collins said Friday on NFL Network’s The Insiders.”But I feel like we have the right pieces, the right people, the right coaches in the right positions. I feel like we know what type of guys we have in the locker room and we know where we want to go. I feel like the main thing is [we] just got to be healthy.”

Houston was banged up, mainly at receiver. After trading for two-time All-Pro Stefon Diggs, the Texans believed a trio of Collins, Tank Dell and the newly acquired Pro Bowler would give the franchise perhaps the top receiver room.

Instead, Diggs lasted eight games before suffering a torn ACL. Dell, who suffered a season-ending injury last fall, lacked his signature explosiveness before suffering another lower-body injury that will keep him out for most of next season.

Even Collins was hurt after a hot start. During Week 5’s victory over the Buffalo Bills, the Pro Bowler left in the first quarter with a hamstring injury and missed the next five games while on the injured reserve.

The offensive woes led to Bobby Slowik’s firing following last month’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Enter new play-caller Nick Caley from the Los Angeles Rams and the passing attack should be more productive.

“It’s gonna be a great year for us,” Collins said. “New OC, but I feel like we’ve got the same guys, same mindset, come in ready to work. Can’t wait to meet him, get ready for OTAs, learn the playbook and get going.”

Collins said that losing in Arrowhead for a second time in less than six weeks left a bitter taste among players.

“We left a bad taste in our mouth leaving K.C.,” Collins said. “We know what it takes. We know what we got to do to make that next jump.”

The team is looking to progress rather than stay idle. The fifth-year pro is confident his squad is built to continue their success moving forward.

“I’m not stressing,” Collins said. “I love this team. I love the guys.”

Drake Maye names three ‘free agent’ wideouts he’d bring to Patriots

Drake Maye names three star receivers he’d love to “bring into the mix” in New England

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye sat down for an interview on “Up & Adams” and named three “free agent” star receivers he would like to “bring into the mix” in New England.

Kudos to host Kay Adams for phrasing the question in a way to keep the collusion crowd at bay.

Those players, who aren’t really free agents, were Houston Texans’ Nico Collins, Cincinnati Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase and Minnesota Vikings’ Justin Jefferson.

All three would be tremendous additions to the Patriots’ struggling wide receivers room. Collins is coming off a season that saw him record 68 catches for 1,006 yards and seven touchdowns.

Chase had a career-year with 127 catches for 1,708 yards and 17 touchdowns. Meanwhile, Jefferson did his part to excite the fans as well with 103 catches for 1,533 yards and 10 touchdowns.

“Ja’Marr is obviously a great answer,” said Maye. “Another receiver there that I met? Nico Collins was awesome. …Justin Jefferson, he’s an easy person to bring to Foxborough.”

Maye could certainly benefit from a top receiving weapon coming to the Patriots.

He got a taste of it at the Pro Bowl. We’ll see if New England can get him a No. 1 receiving target to benefit from more permanently.

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Nico Collins’ best plays: Highlights from Texans WR’s 2024 season

Let’s take a look back at some of Nico Collins’ best plays with the Houston Texans during the 2024 season.

If only a hamstring injury didn’t cost Nico Collins five games. Would he have the single-greatest season for a wide receiver in Houston Texans‘ history?

Honestly, it’s not that far-fetched.

Collins has been one of the most productive receivers over the past two seasons and a reliable No. 1 threat for quarterback C.J. Stroud. He just wrapped up his fourth season with the franchise and though it was another campaign impacted by injury, he still managed to catch at least 68 passes for over 1000  yards for the second straight year.

Collins, who was on pace to set NFL records after totaling 567 yards through the first five games of the year, finished 68 catches on 99 targets, totaling 1,006 yards and seven touchdown receptions. His numbers would have reached new levels if not for the hamstring injury suffered during the first quarter of an October win over the Buffalo Bills.

Signed to a three-year extension, Collins is only getting started. Another season could do wonders for his career and he looks to make a jump from Pro Bowl pass-catcher to All-Pro receiver.

 Below is a highlight reel of Collins’ best plays from 2024 with the defending AFC South champions.

WATCH: Texans WR Nico Collins makes presence felt at Pro Bowl

Houston Texans star Nico Collins made more Nico Collins-type plays at the Pro Bowl on Sunday afternoon.

Nico Collins making spectacular grabs isn’t something new for Houston Texans fans to notice.

As for the rest of the NFL? They got to check him out on the main stage in Orlando, Fla, Sunday afternoon at the Pro Bowl Games.

During the first quarter, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow underthrew a pass, but it was an easy catch for Collins to move the chains and help pick up a first down.

Here’s a look at the clip below:

The AFC would eventually punch it into the end zone on a 2-yard touchdown pass from Burrow to Bengals teammate Ja’Marr Chase.

Collins, who inked a three-year extension worth $72.5 million this offseason, was on pace to lead the NFL in every receiving category before a hamstring injury sidelined him for five weeks.

The Pro Bowler still lived up to the billing in 12 regular-season games, hauling in 68 passes for 1,006 yards and seven TDs. His 14 exlposive catches also ranked top 10 among all AFC receivers.

The Texans own the No. 25 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.

Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo reveals concern covering Texans player: ‘A Game Wrecker’

Kansas City #Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo reveals concern covering Houston #Texans wide receiver Nico Collins | @EdEastonJr

The Houston Texans are underdogs heading into the Divisional Round matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs. However, their talented offensive weapons give them a chance in every game, and they were on display in their home victory last week against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has concerns about many of the Texans’ offensive weapons, but he singled out wide receiver Nico Collins. During his press conference on Wednesday, he shared Collins’s unique qualities and the preparation needed to slow down his efficiency.

“We’ll try to work that it won’t always work that way. I mean, they’re pretty smart. They move guys around. But, you know, listen, no matter who ends up on ’12’ (Nico Collins), I mean, I’m talking about all eleven sets of eyes on defense. Need to know where he is. He’s what we call a ‘Game Wrecker.” said Spagnuolo. “If you let a ‘Game Wrecker’ on offense wreck the game, that’s not going to be good. So he’s a guy that we’re certainly very concerned about.”

Collins finished the 2024 season with 68 catches for 1,006 yards and seven touchdowns. He was a key factor in Houston’s Wild Card victory over the Chargers with seven receptions for 122 yards and a touchdown last weekend.

Nico Collins makes Texans’ history in wild-card round win over Chargers

Nico Collins is into the end zone and into the Houston Texans’ history books.

DeAndre Hopkins once surpassed Houston Texans Hall of Fame receiver Andre Johnson en route to making playoff history.

It was only a matter of time before Nico Collins took up the mantle as the new face of Houston’s postseason.

That moment arrived on Saturday afternoon midway through the fourth quarter.

Collins totaled 122 yards on seven catches, including a 13-yard touchdown in the second quarter, as the Texans secured a 32-12 wild-card win over the Los Angeles Chargers.

The yardage total surpassed  Hopkins’ 118 in 2019’s divisional-round collapse against the Kansas City Chiefs. Coincidentally, that happened to be Hopkins’ last game in a Texans uniform before he was traded to the Arizona Cardinals in the offseason.

That won’t be something Houston fans will endure this offseason as Collins and the Texans prepare for their rematch with the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round next weekend.

“It’s a blessing,” Collins said of the play. “D-Hop, that boy is special man. Him and (Johnson). So, it’s great to be past that. Them two dudes I still watch ’til this day.”

After a quiet first quarter, Collins exploded to give Houston momentum in the second quarter. After C.J. Stroud found Xavier Hutchinson for a 34-yard pickup, Collins won his one-on-one battle against Chargers cornerback Kristian Fulton in man coverage and propelled his way into Los Angeles’ red zone for a 37-yard gain.

Two plays later, the slant route got the best of Fulton for the touchdown and eventual 7-6 lead.

“That dude right there, he’s really elevated himself as an NFL number one receiver,” Stroud said. “He shows that week in and week out. I’m just so happy for that guy. I think this is just the start for him as well.”

Collins, who inked a three-year, $72.5 million extension before OTAs, was on pace to lead the league in receiving yards after the first five games, but a hamstring injury sidelined him for over a month.

When he returned, the fourth-year pro only totaled one 100-yard outing to close out the regular season. While he managed to surpass 1,000 yards on the campaign, the outcome was different from what fans envisioned after his breakout start.

But Stroud said Collins was “born out the womb great.” Whenever he needed a big-time play, there was the 6-foot-4 star to come up clutch.

“I’m just so happy for that guy and I think this is just the start for him as well,” Stroud said. “He had another 1,000-yard season and he’s still hungry for more. He’s still in here every day working on his body. He’s hungrier than ever.”

Like Stroud, who became the fifth quarterback to win multiple playoff games in their first two seasons, Collins made history.
He wants to make more in the coming weeks with a shot at the Super Bowl in the works.

“I got to continue to go, continue to keep making plays for this team and keep being myself at the end of the day,” Collins said. “I feel like that’s the most important part.”

Offense nowhere to be found in Chargers’ loss to Texans: Instant analysis of wild-card game

Here’s our recap of the Chargers’ playoff loss to the Texans in a game that saw Justin Herbert have arguably the worst performance of his career.

The Chargers’ season has come to a close after losing to the Texans on Saturday.

Here’s our recap of Los Angeles’ 32-12 loss to Houston.

It was over when…

Justin Herbert’s pass intended for Ladd McConkey was picked off by Eric Murray and taken back for a touchdown to extend the Texans’ lead to two scores late in the third quarter.

Notable number

Herbert is the first player in NFL history to throw more interceptions in a playoff game than in the regular season, according to ESPN’s Kris Rhim. He threw four tonight and only threw three all year.

3 stars of the game

  1. WR Ladd McConkey: 9 catches, 197 yards, touchdown
  2. EDGE Khalil Mack: 2 sacks
  3. CB Deane Leonard: Interception

Quick hits

  • This was arguably the worst game of Herbert’s career, crumbling with the world watching him. He finished 14-32 (43.8%), the worst completion percentage in a playoff game by a Charger since Philip Rivers in 2006, and tied for third worst in franchise history, per ESPN’s Kris Rhim.
  • Herbert had never thrown more than two interceptions in a game in his entire career.
  • The Chargers’ offense was lifeless the entire game. The Texans pressured Herbert 19 times and sacked him four times. There were too many dropped passes. The running game was nonexistent.
  • The Chargers’ defense forced three turnovers, but the offense only turned those takeaways into three points.
  • Los Angeles averaged just 2.8 yards per rush. The Texans dominated at the line of scrimmage, giving the Chargers no rushing lanes.
  • McConkey was the leading receiver with nine catches for 197 yards. The next on the list was Will Dissly, who had two receptions for 16 yards. Quentin Johnston had five targets but failed to record a catch.
  • Los Angeles finished 3-of-11 on third down. They held Houston to 5-of-14 on third down but allowed them to convert on both fourth-down attempts.
  • The momentum shift came late in the second quarter, deep in Texans territory when Stroud fumbled the snap but recovered and found a wide-open Xavier Hutchinson in the middle of the field for a 34-yard gain because of a busted coverage. Houston scored and went on to put up 23 unanswered points.

What’s next?

The Chargers finished the 2024 season with an 11-7 record and a playoff spot in Jim Harbaugh’s first year as head coach. They enter the offseason with plenty of positional needs at running back, wide receiver, tight end, interior offensive line, edge defender and interior defensive line.

WATCH: Texans take lead in wild-card round with Nico Collins TD

Nico Collins can’t be contained on wild-card weekend over the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Houston Texans aren’t just on the board. They now have the lead heading into halftime.

The Texans are up 7-6 over the Los Angeles Chargers in the wild-card round following a Nico Collins 13-yard touchdown pass from C.J. Stroud with just under a minute remaining in the first quarter.

Houston got lucky after a snap went sideways. Deep in their territory, the Texans fumbled as Stroud tried to make something out of nothing. He uncorked one downfield to Xavier Hutchinson for a 34-yard pickup.

Two plays later, Collins picked up 39 yards and put Houston in the red zone.

Houston (10-7) will begin the second half on offense. With a win, the Texans would move to 6-2 all-time on wild-card weekend.

Texans drive 99 yards, take lead over Chargers on TD pass

Texans t ake lead on TD pass from C.J. Stroud to Nico Collins

The Houston Texans offense was stagnant in the first half. There wasn’t reason for hope when they took over at their 1 late in the second quarter.

C.J. Stroud kept the drive alive with a great pass on a broken play.

It concluded with the Texans QB hitting Nico Collins for a touchdown pass. After the PAT, the Texans led 7-6.

The drive:

Houston TexansTouchdown
13 plays, 99 yards, 5:17
LAC
6
HOU
7
3rd & 11 at LAC 13
(0:58 – 2nd) (Shotgun) C.Stroud pass short middle to N.Collins for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN. K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-J.Weeks, Holder-T.Townsend.
2nd & 11 at LAC 13
(1:05 – 2nd) (Shotgun) C.Stroud pass incomplete short middle to R.Woods (C.Hart).
2nd & 11 at LAC 13
(1:05 – 2nd) Timeout #1 by LAC at 01:05.
1st & 10 at LAC 12
(1:09 – 2nd) (Shotgun) J.Mixon up the middle to LAC 13 for -1 yards (P.Ford).
2nd & 10 at LAC 49
(1:57 – 2nd) (Shotgun) C.Stroud pass deep left to N.Collins to LAC 12 for 37 yards (A.Gilman).
1st & 10 at LAC 49
(2:00 – 2nd) (Shotgun) C.Stroud pass incomplete short middle to D.Schultz (T.Dye).
1st & 10 at LAC 49
(2:00 – 2nd) Two-Minute Warning
3rd & 16 at HOU 17
(2:24 – 2nd) (Shotgun) C.Stroud to HST 13 for -4 yards. FUMBLES, and recovers at HST 5. C.Stroud pass deep right to X.Hutchinson to LAC 49 for 34 yards (E.Jackson).
2nd & 21 at HOU 12
(3:04 – 2nd) C.Stroud pass short right to C.Stover to HST 17 for 5 yards (D.James).
2nd & 10 at HOU 23
(3:26 – 2nd) (Shotgun) C.Stroud pass short middle to X.Hutchinson to HST 27 for 4 yards (D.Leonard) [T.Tart]. PENALTY on HST-T.Howard, Tripping, 11 yards, enforced at HST 23 – No Play.
1st & 10 at HOU 23
(3:32 – 2nd) (Shotgun) C.Stroud pass incomplete short right to R.Woods [P.Ford].
2nd & 7 at HOU 16
(4:11 – 2nd) (Shotgun) C.Stroud pass short left to J.Metchie ran ob at HST 23 for 7 yards (D.Henley).
1st & 10 at HOU 13
(4:47 – 2nd) J.Mixon left tackle to HST 16 for 3 yards (K.Mack).
3rd & 3 at HOU 8
(5:30 – 2nd) (Shotgun) C.Stroud pass short left to N.Collins to HST 13 for 5 yards (K.Fulton).
2nd & 3 at HOU 8
(5:37 – 2nd) C.Stroud pass incomplete short left.
1st & 10 at HOU 1
(6:15 – 2nd) J.Mixon up the middle to HST 8 for 7 yards (T.Tart).

 

Will Chargers beat Texans in wild-card round? Here are our latest predictions

The Los Angeles Chargers look to pick up their first playoff win since 2018.

The Chargers look to pick up their first playoff win since 2018 when they head to Houston to meet the Texans.

Los Angeles is currently a 3-point road favorite, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.

Here are Chargers Wire’s predictions for Saturday’s game:

Gavino

The Chargers are playing fantastic football right now, winning their last three games. Los Angeles’ offense has found its stride, while the defense continues to dominate, giving up an NFL-low 301 points this season. Meanwhile, the Texans enter this game without two key offensive players in Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell. C.J. Stroud was the second-most sacked quarterback during the regular season. This spells disaster for an injury-depleted offense. Despite Houston’s decent defense, the variety of the Chargers offense should make it challenging to keep pace. Oh yeah, and then there’s Jim Harbaugh, who has been in many of these types of games.

Prediction: Chargers 24, Texans 17

NFL Playoff picks: Unlock exclusive data-driven predictions 

Alex

Houston has had issues picking up blitzes all season, which could present the Texans with problems against a Chargers defense that’s been among the league’s most creative at producing pressure looks. On the other side, Justin Herbert’s ability to pepper the middle of the field against an inexperienced linebacker unit may prove to be the difference.

Prediction: Chargers 27, Texans 23