Tag: Nico Collins

Gimme Him: One player the Chiefs would steal from the Texans

Which Houston #Texans player would we pick to add to the Kansas City #Chiefs’ roster for the rest of the regular season?

This Saturday, December 21, the Kansas City Chiefs (13-1) are scheduled to host the Houston Texans (9-5) at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

This matchup could prove to be challenging for the Chiefs. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes is playing through an ankle strain and the Texans defense excels at applying pressure to their opponents.

Chiefs Wire is conducting a game of hypotheticals this week called “Gimme Him.”

If Kansas City could trade for any player on Houston’s roster this week with nothing in return, which Texan would have the greatest impact within the Chiefs lineup?

Wide receiver Nico Collins has stood out, proving himself to be a great asset to Houston’s air attack by making six touchdowns and totaling 849 yards on 53 catches. He has impressive control of the ball, having no fumbles in 2024.

Kansas City already has a solid receiving corps; however, in this campaign, explosive plays have been more limited. The Chiefs’ leading receiver is tight end Travis Kelce, who has logged 709 yards on 84 catches and only scored two touchdowns.

Kansas City will have to focus on containing Collins in Saturday’s matchup, a loss in Week 16 could cost the Chiefs the number one seed in the AFC.

Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo shares his thoughts on the Texans offense: ‘They’re in complete synergy’

Kansas City #Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo shares his thoughts on the Houston #Texans offense: ‘They’re in complete synergy’ | @EdEastonJr

Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo spoke with reporters on Wednesday about his game plan to slow down the Houston Texans’ offense this Saturday.

“They (Texans QB C.J. Stroud and Texans WR Nico Collins) look like they’re in complete synergy (meshes hands together), and not just those two and not just that wideout,” said Spagnuolo. “I think they have a tight end (Texans TE Dalton Schultz) that’s really effective, their slot receivers (Texans WR Tank Dell) really good, and then the running back (Texans RB Joe Mixon), who we saw a lot when he was in Cincinnati –boy, what a find he was for them and he – and not just as a running back. He catches the ball out of the backfield, too.”

The Chiefs defense held the Cleveland Browns to seven points in last Sunday’s 21-7 victory, registering a season-high six takeaways in the process. It marks the club’s first game with six or more takeaways since the team recorded eight takeaways vs. the New York Jets in a Week 3 game in the 2016 season. 

“We hadn’t played the Texans since C.J. (Stroud) had gotten there, so we really hadn’t studied them other than seeing highlights and whatnot, but he’s as impressive as you had heard about people talking. (He’s) really poised for a second-year quarterback, and I think he just has a unique ability to move around in the pocket and still have his eyes downfield.” said Spagnuolo. “He makes a lot of plays slipping in and out of the pocket and finding an open receiver, and when a quarterback can do that, I think that’s pretty dangerous.”

The Texans have clinched a postseason spot this year and will likely host a wild-card game. Kansas City’s last home regular-season game will energize the defense, which will be looking to repeat last week’s performance.

Analysis: Texans inch closer to division title with win over Dolphins

The Houston Texans are a victory away from back-to-back 10-win seasons following Sunday’s outing against the Miami Dolphins.

The Houston Texans did their job. Will the Denver Broncos help them out?

Nico Collins caught two touchdown passes from C.J. Stroud while the Texans’ defense forced four turnovers, including two fourth-quarter interceptions by Derek Stingley, to secure a 20-12 win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday at NRG Stadium.

“Stingley is playing just unbelievable football right now,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said.

Should the Broncos beat the Colts out west, Houston would secure its second division title under Ryans in as many years.

Stingley. who could be the dark horse to win the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year honors, iced the game with 1:23 remaining with a pick against Tua Tagovailoa on a pass intended for Tyreek Hill.

Earlier in the game. Houston capitalized on another Tagovailoa turnover, this time caused by a stip-sack from Will Anderson Jr. Tim Settle recovered the ball and returned it to the Miami 26. Four plays later, Stroud connected with Collins for a 6-yard score.

The duo would find the end zone again with 11 minutes remaining in the third quarter after Dare Ogunbowale picked up 35 yards on a fake punt.

Stroud threw for 131 yards and two touchdowns. He also finished with a 106.6 passer rating, a season-best since Week 6’s win over the New England Patriots.

Houston’s ground game was limited behind Joe Mixon being shaken up by a hard hit during the second quarter. He finished with 23 rushing yards, but led the offense with five receptions for 33 yards.

Tagovailoa tried to lead a comeback down by 14 thanks to an 11-play, 73-yard drive capped off with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Jonnu Smith on fourth down. Miami could have been within a touchdown, but Jason Sanders’ kick went wide left, leading to an 8-point margin.

Two late interceptions sealed the deal for Tagovailoa, who was credited with a season-high four turnovers. Miami (6-8) played without starting tackles Terron Armstead and Kendall Lamm. Tagovailoa threw for 196 yards, 143 of which came in the second half.

A scare occurred midway through the third quarter as Dolphins Grant DuBose was carted off after colliding with rookie defensive back Calen Bullock. Tagovailoa tried to lead DuBose out, but the receiver’s head violently hit the turf.

“There’s been some positive feedback related to some head and neck imaging,” coach Mike McDaniel said. “He will stay here overnight, and we’ll find out more by (Monday).”

Bullock was given a flag for unnecessary roughness for hitting a defenseless receiver on the play.

DuBose remained on the field for more than 10 minutes. Emergency medical assistance from trained personnel was required, which resulted in them having to cut off his jersey and a neck brace was put on him while he was taken to an ambulance.

The team said he was in stable condition and being taken to a local hospital for further evaluation.

Danielle Hunter inched closer to making league history with his 1.5-sack performance. He needs a half-sack from now until the end of the regular season to join the 100-career club before the end of the regular season.

Injuries

Dolphins receiver Jaylen Waddle suffered a knee injury in the second quarter and didn’t return.

Texans tight end Cade Stover was ruled out before kickoff after having an emergency appendectomy Saturday night.

Texans defensive Foley Fatukasi injured an ankle in the second quarter and did not return.

Stat of the Game

Once the Texans moved Stingley over to covering All-Pro receiver Tyreek Hill, the game was close to over. The third-year defensive back limited Hill to one catch for 15 yards.

For the afternoon, Hill finished with two receptions for 36 yards.

“It’s a good opportunity going against somebody that’s the face of the NFL,” Stingley said. “So anytime you get to go out there on the field, it’s just a good time, just time to have fun.”

Up Next

The Texans travel to Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday to take on the Kansas City Chiefs. Kansas City might be short-handed without star quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who is considered week-to-week after suffering an ankle injury in Sunday’s win against the Cleveland Browns.

Kickoff is scheduled for noon CT.

Texans Nico Collins returns to All-Pro form with TD catch vs. Dolphins

Nico Collins is looking like Pro Bowl Nico Collins once more for the Houston Texans offense.

Nico Collins has a knack for finding his way into the end zone whenever the Houston Texans play at NRG Stadium.

Right on cue, No. 12 has six points attached to his name.

The Texans took a 10-3 lead with 6:51 remaining in the first half when quarterback C.J. Stroud connected with Collins on a third-and-6. Stroud stepped up into a clean pocket and waited for his chance to strike.

Once Collins won his one-on-one, it was over for Miami’s secondary.

The play was set up thanks to a Will Anderson Jr. strip-sack against Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Tim Settle scooped up the ball and ran it back to put Houston at the Miami 28.

Fans at NRG Stadium exhaled a sigh of relief when Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon returned after he was brought down by a hip-drop tackle on the previous drive.

Collins, who missed five games with a hamstring injury, is on his way back to a Pro Bowl-caliber season. He’s already caught four passes for 11 yards and a score.

The Texans’ offense will look to explode in the second half when they receive. With a win today, Houston would need an Indianapolis Colts’ against the Denver Broncos to secure the AFC South division title.

Why Mike McDaniel ‘couldn’t be happier’ about Jalen Ramsey’s rough game

Mike McDaniel isn’t worried about Jalen Ramsey’s tough day vs. the Jets and he’s excited about what it means for the team moving forward.

Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey didn’t have his finest performance against the New York Jets in Week 14.

While opponents are typically wary about testing the seven-time Pro Bowler, the Jets’ Aaron Rodgers threw the cornerback’s direction eight times Sunday, per PFF, for six completions and 146 yards. It was the most yards allowed by Ramsey in a game since he joined the Dolphins in 2023.

Head coach Mike McDaniel says those numbers deserve some context, though.

“When you have an asset such as Jalen Ramsey is you can lean on his talents in very aggressive ways and sometimes kind of give all help to all others – not just safeties, but body position of underneath coverage,” McDaniel said Wednesday. “There’s certain times that I think he believes, and we believe, that the defense is best served when he’s on an island.”

And even though Ramsey wasn’t able to lockdown Garrett Wilson on an island, McDaniel isn’t worried about the cornerback’s play heading into a matchup against Nico Collins and Tank Dell of the Houston Texans. In fact, he’s pretty excited about it.

“I couldn’t be happier that one of our top competitors on this team was challenged because I just know how he responds,” McDaniel said. “I thought he had some of his best technique within that game. He’s a very prideful dude that is one of those guys that takes everything personal on the football field in a good way. So I know we’re going to get the best version of Jalen Ramsey versus the Texans.”

A strong showing from Ramsey would go a long way toward the Dolphins getting another win Sunday. Houston is 4-0 in games when Collins eclipses 100 receiving yards and lost three of five games when he was out of action with a hamstring injury.

If Ramsey and the rest of the Dolphins secondary can’t contain the fourth-year receiver, it could be another long day for the Miami defense. McDaniel evidently doesn’t believe Ramsey would allow that to happen twice.

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Who to take in Week 12 in your NFL survivor pool

Breaking down the best strategies of how to win your NFL survivor pool as the season continues into Week 12.

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In Week 11 of the NFL regular season, favorites went 10-4 straight up, with the Seattle Seahawks providing the largest upset as 6-point underdogs on the road against the San Francisco 49ers.

We also saw our last unbeaten team, the Kansas City Chiefs, fall on the road as slight underdogs at the Buffalo Bills. There is almost no chance anyone selected the Chiefs in a survivor pool despite their previously unblemished record.

In Week 11 of the USA TODAY NFL Survivor Pool contest, no more people were shown the door, leaving 26 of the 10,357 still alive for the prize of $5,000. However, on Thursday night in Week 12, the Pittsburgh Steelers cost 5 people in a snowy battle on the road against the Cleveland Browns.

We selected the Detroit Lions in Week 11 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, with the home side blasting the visitors 52-6 in one of the most stress-free victories of the entire NFL season for survivor players. QB Mac Jones continues to struggle as a replacement for the injured QB Trevor Lawrence (shoulder).

In the second option, on Monday Night Football, the Houston Texans were a risky play on the road, even against the struggling Dallas Cowboys and backup QB Cooper Rush. Houston, which won 34-10, fired out of the chute 14-0 in the opening quarter, and after just a 17-10 lead at halftime, the Texans outscored the Cowboys 17-0 in the final 30 minutes for the comfortable victory.

Scoping out the Week 12 slate, we have 7 favorites of 6 or more points, including a pair of double-digit favorites, including one divisional matchup.

Follow the USA TODAY NFL Survivor Pool.

– All games Sunday and ET unless noted

The pick: Houston Texans

Who they play: Home vs. Tennessee Titans – 1 p.m. (CBS)

Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of NFL odds. Lines last updated Friday at 5:44 a.m. ET.

  • Line: Texans -8 / Moneyline (ML): Texans -450 | Titans +340

The Texans (7-4) host the stumbling Tennessee Titans (2-8) after thumping the Cowboys on national television Monday night. Yes, it is a short week, and yes, the Titans are a divisional opponent. Heck, we got a reminder Thursday from a 2-win Cleveland team that nothing is a certainty.

However, the Texans swept the Titans last season, including a 26-3 victory at NRG Stadium on New Year’s Eve as a 5.5-point favorite in a lower-scoring game. Tennessee has been held to 11.0 points per game (PPG) in the past 3 losses in this series.

Let’s roll with QB C.J. Stroud, who has WR Nico Collins back healthy, as Houston looks to solve a surprisingly solid Tennessee defense. The Titans have allowed just 278.0 total yards, and 164.6 passing yards, so this will be a closer shave than expected. However, Houston will eventually get the job done at home.

HOUSTON IS MY FAVORITE SURVIVOR PLAY OF WEEK 12.

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No. 2 option: Kansas City Chiefs

Who they play: At Carolina Panthers – 1 p.m. (CBS)

  • Line: Chiefs -11 / ML: Chiefs -700 | Panthers +500

The Chiefs are a road team, and we try to avoid options away from home if we can help it. However, Kansas City will be angry after suffering its first loss of the season against the Buffalo Bills.

The Chiefs are east of the Mississippi River for the second consecutive weekend, and they hope it goes better than last week. Of course, facing the Panthers and facing the Bills is just a little bit different. QB Patrick Mahomes will look to get back on track against a Chiefs defense allowing 386.9 total yards and 31.0 PPG.

As a favorite this season, Kansas City is perfect straight up (8-0) in 8 outings this season. It has won 10 in a row, including the postseason, when favored. The most recent setback was a 20-14 loss on Christmas Day last season as an 11-point favorite against the Las Vegas Raiders at Arrowhead.

Other(s) to consider

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: At New York Giants – 1 p.m. (CBS)

  • Line: Buccaneers -6 / ML: Buccaneers -6 (-105) | Giants +6 (-115)

Washington Commanders: Home vs. Dallas Cowboys – 1 p.m. (FOX)

  • Line: Commanders -10.5 / ML: Commanders -10.5 (-105) | Cowboys +10.5 (-115)

2024 survivor game log

NO. 1 OPTION

Week 1: LOSS – Patriots 16, Bengals 10
Week 2: LOSS – Falcons 22, Eagles 21
Week 3: LOSS – Panthers 36, Raiders 22
Week 4: WIN – 49ers 30, Patriots 13
Week 5: LOSS – Giants 29, Seahawks 20

Week 6: WIN – Eagles 20, Browns 16
Week 7: WIN – Commanders 40, Panthers 7
Week 8: LOSS – Browns 29, Ravens 24
Week 9: WIN – Chiefs 30, Buccaneers 24 (OT)
Week 10: WIN – Vikings 12, Jaguars 7

Week 11: WIN – Lions 52, Jaguars 6

WIN YOUR FANTASY FOOTBALL LEAGUE!
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NO. 2 OPTION

Week 1: WIN – Saints 47, Panthers 10
Week 2: WIN – Chargers 26, Panthers 3
Week 3: LOSS – Giants 21, Browns 15
Week 4: WIN – Cowboys 20, Giants 15
Week 5: WIN – Commanders 34, Browns 13

Week 6: WIN – Falcons 38, Panthers 20
Week 7: WIN – Bills 34, Titans 10
Week 8: WIN – Lions 52, Titans 14
Week 9: WIN – Eagles 28, Jaguars 23
Week 10: WIN – Chargers 27, Titans 17

Week 11: WIN – Texans 34, Cowboys 10

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Will Texans WR Nico Collins see more reps vs. Titans?

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins saw a career-low in snaps during Monday’s win over the Dallas Cowboys.

The Houston Texans defeated the Dallas Cowboys to prove who was the top team in Texas for 2024.

That wasn’t a surprise since fans rushed to the exits faster than Cooper Rush went through his progressions.

Fans were taken aback by the limited reps for No. 1 target Nico Collins. After missing five games on the injured reserve with a hamstring injury, many figured the fourth-year pro would be the focal point of the passing attack in Arlington.

Far from it, actually. Collins, who caught four passes for 54 yards, saw action in only 28 of Houston’s 60 offensive snaps, marking a career-low since 2021.

Was Collins on a snap count? According to Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, no, but Houston didn’t want to risk a setback that could derail the season goals further.

“Anytime you get a player like that back you are taking notes of how do we want to use him and how do we want to make sure we are being smart,” Slowik said Thursday. “If this game becomes a critical game at the end, we want him on the field so how do we make sure we are getting the best version of Nico when that happens?”

Houston, which secured a 34-10 win at AT&T Stadium, was content trusting its ground game. Joe Mixon scored three touchdowns and averaged 5.5 yards per run en route to finishing with 153 yards of offense.

C.J. Stroud wasn’t perfect, but he found a groove on crucial drives. The second-year passer finished 23-of-34 passing for 257 yards and an interception on a pass intended for Collins during the first quarter.

Houston (7-4) needs Collins for the offensive approach to remain at its peak. Throughout the first five weeks, Stroud and Collins were on a different level of consistency. Since his departure, there’s been evident regression in the passing game, tempo and consistency from the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year.

That should change as Collins continues to get back to full strength. The Texans play host to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday and star cornerback L’Jarius Sneed has already been ruled out.

That should benefit Collins in man coverage, right? Perhaps, but Slowik mentioned that the Texans aren’t changing their approach on rep count until Collins is in direct swing.

“We are always going to approach it as we are going to try to be smart,” Slowik said. “The more often you can get a really good player on the field one hundred percent and not winded and being able to roll, we are going to do that as often as we can.”

Kickoff is scheduled for noon CT.

Titans vs. Texans: 3 causes for concern in Week 12

The Tennessee Titans face the Houston Texans on Sunday, and there are three causes for concern in Week 12.

This Sunday, the Tennessee Titans will play the Houston Texans at 1 p.m. EDT at NRG Stadium in Texas.

The 7-4 Texans sit atop the AFC South and will likely remain there through the season. Nothing is ever guaranteed, but given how poorly the rest of the division is playing (including the Titans), there’s no reason to think the Texans will miss the playoffs.

The Titans, though, are 2-8 after their recent 23-13 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. They are in a rebuild, and while it’s been slightly painful to get where we are, they are finally showing signs of improvement. They have a division-heavy schedule to end their season, and those games will give us a good indication of just how well this team is doing.

While a win may not be expected this Sunday, it’s still the goal. To that end, there are three causes for concern for the Titans heading into Week 12.

Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports

Nico Collins is back

Texans’ wide receiver Nico Collins spent several weeks on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. He returned last week to help the Texans defeat the Dallas Cowboys. Not only is Collins the Texans’ top wide receiver, but he’s also C.J. Stroud’s favorite target. Prior to being sidelined, he was leading the league in receiving yards.

With Collins back on the field, the Titans’ secondary will have its work cut out for them. The Texans have relied heavily on their run game with Collins out, but that will change as he reintegrates himself with his team. Last week, Collins roped in just four catches for 54 yards, but it’s largely because the Texans kept the ball on the ground against a shaky Cowboys defense.

The Titans’ defense is better than the Cowboys, so the Texans might not put up 34 points, but you should expect Collins to be more involved this week, and he will make an impact against a tired and worn down secondary.

Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Half of all injured players are on injured reserve

The Titans season hasn’t just been dictated by the rebuild under a new coaching regime, it’s also been dictated by the number of injuries this team has sustained this season. The defense in particular has struggled to keep players healthy, but the offense is starting to catch up.

As of this writing, there are eight offensive players and 12 defensive players who have an injury designation. Four offensive players and six defensive players are on injured reserve. These injuries aren’t just affecting the players’ ability to compete on the field, but they are taking bodies away from the team, making it difficult for available players to keep up without getting fatigued.

This season has been a struggle for a number of reasons, but injuries certainly aren’t helping anything. When 10 players of your 53-man roster are sidelined, it’s not easy to cover those losses with elevations from the practice squad.

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

C.J. Stroud continues to improve

It’s hard to believe that C.J. Stroud and Will Levis are in the same draft class, but they are. Last season, Stroud took a bottom-feeding Texans team and changed the outlook on the entire organization in the wake of the Deshaun Watson scandal. They only won four games and didn’t make the playoffs, but the change in the team was readily apparent.

Stroud is in just his second year, but as a rookie he showed that he has the makings of an elite quarterback. The last elite quarterbacks the Titans faced were Josh Allen and Jared Goff, and we all know how that went. Stroud may be young, but he is very capable and if the Titans secondary isn’t on-point, he has the ability to expose whatever weakness they show.

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Titans’ Tony Pollard, Texans’ Joe Mixon top fantasy options in Week 12

The Titans and Texans face off in Houston on Sunday and both teams boast players who are worthy of starting on your fantasy rosters in Week 12.

The Tennessee Titans head to the Lone Star state on Sunday to face division rival Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. The Texans sit atop the AFC South division with ease and will likely have no issue making the playoffs. The Titans are third in the AFC South but have a division-heavy schedule to end the season which could change things a bit.

The Titans, while it’s been slow, are making progress and beginning to look better each week. There have been a lot of challenges and obstacles to overcome, but even in last week’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings, the Titans looked better than they have all season.

This week, the Titans’ stout defense faces a dynamic Houston offense that is capable of making big plays. But the Houston defense isn’t as tough as some the Titans’ have faced recently, which provides an opportunity for Will Levis & Co. to move the ball down the field.

Let’s take a quick peek at the fantasy options these two teams provide in Week 12.

Despite missing time with an ankle injury, Joe Mixon has been lighting up the fantasy scoreboard. Last week against the Dallas Cowboys, he rushed for over 100 yards and three touchdowns, plus added two receptions for 44 more yards. He has exceeded 100 rushing yards in six of eight games with the Texans and has a total of 11 touchdowns this season. He is the eighth ranked running back in the league, despite missing time.

Against the Titans in Week 12, he is poised for another strong game. The Titans’ have allowed 13 scrimmage touchdowns to running backs, tied for fourth-most in the NFL. He’s not only going to get his ground yards this week, but he will find the end zone.

Tony Pollard is the Titans’ number one back. That’s not a secret and it’s not going to change anytime soon. Tyjae Spears has been a nice compliment to Pollard on the field, gaining solid yards when needed. But after the Titans’ loss to the Vikings on Sunday, Spears entered the NFL’s five-step concussion protocol. He remains questionable against the Texans, and in games when he hasn’t played, Pollard averages 24 touches per game. It’s still a tough matchup behind a flimsy offensive line, but Pollard will get his touches this week and could find the end zone at some point.

Prior to landing on injured reserve for five weeks with a hamstring injury, Nico Collins was taking the league by storm and sitting at the top of the receiver rankings. Since then, the rankings have changed without him on the field, but his return against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday definitely gave the team a boost. He was a bit rusty, which is expected, and the Titans’ secondary might prove to be a difficult matchup, but by the end of the game when the Titans’ defenders are fatigued, look for him to make his mark.

After DeAndre Hopkins was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs, Calvin Ridley became the undisputed WR1. Over the last four games, he has 358 receiving yards and two touchdowns and would have had a third had it not been called back for a penalty last week. The Texans’ secondary allows the most touchdowns to wide receivers and gives up over 150 receiving yards per game to wideouts.

Will Levis looks much improved since his return as well, racking up 295 passing yards in Week 11, which bodes well for Ridley going forward. If Levis and Ridley can consistently be on the same page, it could prove to be a solid combination.

Let’s be real; the Titans’ offense is inconsistent at best. Yes, Will Levis played well last week, but on the road against a division rival? It’s going to be a tough test. The Texans’ defense is projected to have the second-most fantasy points in Week 12 behind the Denver Broncos, who are playing Las Vegas. Will Levis is likely to turn the ball over; he has only one game this season where he hasn’t thrown an interception. Plus, the Titans are still trying to find their footing during this rebuild, especially at the right tackle position. If the Texans attack from that side, they’ll have no trouble disrupting the Titans’ offense and having a nice fantasy outing this week.

Texans ready for return of WR Nico Collins for season’s second half

Nico Collins is back for the first time in five games for the Houston Texans.

The Houston Texans are eight quarters and counting without a touchdown in the second half.

That should change with the return or Nico Collins.

The Texans will have their leading man back on the sidelines for the first time since Week 5 in Monday’s matchup against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Collins isn’t looking to ease his way back in, either.
There’s reasons to believe that No. 12 will be the No. 1 talking point of the Tuesday morning talk show circuits.

“In order to pick back up, I got to ball out when the ball touches my hands,” Collins said earlier this week. “When the ball is in the air, I have to do something with it.”

It’s a tale of two halves for Houston this season. With Collins in the lineup, the Texans sit at 4-1. With him out, they’re 2-3. They’ve also been outscored 74-39 in the second half since Week 6.

It’s also affected C.J. Stroud’s stat line. Before Collins’ injury, the Texans were sixth in total offense (376.6 yards per game) and fourth in passing. Stroud ranked third in passing yards (1,385), tied for 10th in touchdowns (seven) and 10th in QBR (66.2).

Over the past five games, the Texans rank 24th in total offense (299 yards per game) and 16th in scoring (20 points per contest). Stroud currently ranks 13th in passing (2,371) and 22nd in QBR (54.7).

“I am very excited to have my guy back,” Stroud said. “I am just happy for him to be back with the team, be a part of the locker room again. They are in solitude, when players are injured, they are on their own. So I am glad he is just able to be around the guys again and be able to do the sport that he loves to play.”

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said earlier this week that Stroud needs to “cut it loose” on Monday night. That should be easier with the return of his No. 1 receiver.

Prior to the injury, Collins led the NFL with 567 receiving yards and ranked third in receptions with 32. By missing five games, his 113.4 yards per contest remains among the league’s best.

“Getting Nico back is always very great for all of us,” Ryans said. “Nico’s been one of our best players when he was healthy, so it’s great to have him back, great to have his presence and the energy that he brings and also the playmaking ability that he brings.”

Collins and Stroud’s connection could be the x-factor down the stretch for Houston before the bye week. After traveling to Arlington, the Texans return home for an AFC South showdown against the Tennessee Titans. After that, they hit the road to take on the struggling Jacksonville Jaguars.

With three wins, the Texans would be back at 9-3 in the hunt for a top-three seed in the AFC, but everything starts with a win on Monday.

Everything ends with Collins crossing the goal line for the first time in a month.

“I feel like myself,” Collins said. “I’m feeling good.”