Tag: Nico Collins recieivng

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.”

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.”

2 Texans hit franchise milestones in victory over Titans

Nico Collins and Joe Mixon enter the Houston Texans’ record books after a breakout start to Sunday’s game in Nashville.

Joe Mixon promised the Houston Texans when they traded for him last offseason that they’d be getting a baller in the backfield.

Consider that mission accomplished following Sunday’s outing at Nissan Stadium against the Tennessee Titans.

Mixon, the Texans’ most consistent offensive weapon, secured his first 1,000-yard rushing season in a Houston uniform on the first drive against Tennesse before being pulled to prepare for the playoffs.

Mixon entered Week 18 needing just seven rushing yards to hit 1,000 for the season. After missing three games, the 2024 Pro Bowl runner wanted a spark to close out his first regular season in the AFC South.

It took just two carries for Mixon to surpass the mark, gaining 11 total yards and a first down while helping set up an eventual 2-yard touchdown pass to Nico Collins.

Mixon is just the sixth Texans player to hit the four-number production in a season, joining Arian Foster, Steve Slaton, Domanick Williams, Lamar Miller and Carlos Hyde. He’s the first tailback to reach 1,000 yards since Hyde broke the plane in 2019 en route to a division title.

The former Cincinnati Bengals star wasn’t the only player to make franchise history. Collins, who needed 32 yards to surpass 1,000 through the air, caught five passes for 38 yards to cross the threshold before the end of the first quarter.

Just to be safe, the Texans left Collins to stay in the game for one more play with Davis Mills at quarterback for a 6-yard gain.  After that, Collins joined Stroud and Mixon on the bench.

After posting a career-high 1,297 yards in 2023, Collins finished his fourth year with 1,006 yards in 12 games. He joins Andre Johnson, DeAndre Hopkins and Brandin Cooks as one of four players in Texans history with back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons.

The Texans await the outcome of Sunday’s game between the Chargers and Raiders to know who they’ll play in the wild-card round next week. With a win, Los Angeles would head to Houston as the No. 5 seed.

With a loss, the Pittsburgh Steelers would head to NRG Stadium instead.

4 Texans players make 2025 Pro Bowl roster

Derek Stingley Jr., Laremy Tunsil, Nico Collins and Joe Mixon are headed to Orlando.

Four Houston Texans players will represent the AFC South franchise one final time in Orlando later next month.

Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., wide receiver Nico Collins, offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil and running back Joe Mixon were all named to the NFL’s 2025 Pro Bowl roster, the NFL announced Thursday.

Stingley and Tunsil will start for the AFC team coached by Peyton Manning (Eli Manning coaches the NFC squad). The “Pro Bowl Games” feature several skills competitions leading up to a flag football game.

Houston also has six alternates named for the Pro Bowl, including defensive ends Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr.

Stingley, the former No. 3 overall pick in 2022, earned his right to compete in the Pro Bowl after a breakout campaign in coverage. He’s started all 16 contests, recording career highs in tackles (54), tackles for loss (four), passes breakups (18), while also tying a career-high with five interceptions. His five interceptions are tied for sixth-most in the NFL while his three in December alone are tied for first in the AFC.

Collins, a fellow first-time Pro Bowl honoree, was en route to lead the NFL in receiving yards after five games, but a hamstring injury sidelined him for a month. The fourth-year pro ranks fourth nationall and second in the AFC with 88.0 receiving yards per game. Collins is just 32 yards away from becoming the fourth wide receiver in team history to record back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving campaigns.

Mixon returns to the Pro Bowl for the second time in his career following a campaign that showcased him posting 240 carries for 993 yards with 11 scores on the ground while adding 35 receptions for 304 yards with one additional touchdown in 13 starts. He is the only player league-wide to accumulate 1,200 yards from scrimmage in each of the last four seasons.

Tunsil should have real estate property when it comes to the Pro Bowl since this marks his fifth appearance. Now named a starter in back-to-back Pro Bowl appearances, Tunsil has not surrendered a sack since Week 1 and currently holds the fourth-best pass-blocking grade (89.0) in the league.

The 2025 Pro Bowl Games will be held at Camping World Stadium in Orlando on Feb. 2. The NFC defeated the AFC 64-59 last season.

Texans WR Nico Collins can’t believe the NFL fined him for celebrating with a fan

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins was being a good man and the NFL penalized him for it.

Nico Collins is a fan favorite and is always looking to give back to the young Houston Texans‘ fans.

So you can imagine his frustration when the NFL fined him around $5,000 after celebrating with a young fan following his first touchdown reception since Week 5’s win over the Buffalo Bills.

Collins, Houston’s leading receiver, found his way into the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown pass during the second quarter to give the Texans a 20-17 lead in Week 12 against the Tennessee Titans. 

The Pro Bowl-caliber target tossed the ball toward a young kid in the crowd before leaping onto the wall to celebrate with them. After spotting the kid looking extra excited, Collins said he wanted to make his day.

“He was screaming,” Collins said.  “So, I was thinking ‘Here you go big dog. Here’s the ball.’ ”

The NFL wasn’t a fan of the memory created by Collins and slapped him with a fine Thursday afternoon. Collins said he was confused about why the league would fine him for a positive celebration.

“I guess they think you’re going to poke somebody in the eye or something,” Collins said.

Another point was this wasn’t Collins’ first time he’d thrown a ball into the stands, but it was the first time he was fined. He plans to appeal the fine and hopes it will be expunged.

Even if it sticks on his record, Collins said seeing the young fans’ gratitude was rewarding enough.

“Definitely worth it,” Collins said. “Only thing that matters was making that kid happy. He’s never going to forget that moment, so that’s all that matters to me.”

The Texans return to NRG Stadium to take on the Miami Dolphins on Sunday at noon CT.

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.

How do the Texans respond from losing WR Nico Collins?

Nico Collins will miss four games, but does that mean the Texans’ season is over?

The Houston Texans will be without their star receiver Nico Collins for at least four games.

The team also has 12 more games left on the schedule, including several challenging matchups in November.

Collins, who leads the NFL with 567 receiving yards through five games, won’t suit up until at least Nov. 10, when the Texans play host to the Detriot Lions.

The league’s top threat suffered a hamstring injury in the first quarter of Houston’s 23-20 win over the Buffalo Bills in Week 5 after catching a 67-yard touchdown pass from C.J. Stroud.

https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1844023130664452375

On Monday, Texans coach DeMeco Ryans changed his stance from “day-to-day” to “week-to-week” after further evaluation. Instead of worrying if Collins can return, Houston will set a date on when those conversations can ramp up again.

“Nico has been the best receiver in the NFL this year. So, do you replace him? No, everybody just steps up and whatever role you’re asked to do, just step up and play your role the proper way,” Ryans said. “Nobody has to be Nico. There is one Nico; he’s done a great job of that. Now, whoever is next, when your number is called, make the plays that you are supposed to make.”

Yes, Collins’ loss stings. His 32 catches rank third among receivers. His six 20-plus yards explosive plays also rank first through September.

But the Texans have two things boding in their favor: schedule and personnel.

https://twitter.com/espn/status/1844025175722865059

From a receiver standpoint, Houston loses the top trio mantra and must embrace the dynamic duo stance with Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell. The Texans also have a reliable tight end in Dalton Schultz and depth with names like Robert Woods and John Metchie III.

Diggs, a four-time Pro Bowl target with the Buffalo Bills, currently ranks seventh in receptions (31) and finished Sunday’s game with 82 yards on six catches. He also took over the Week 3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings with nine catches for 92 yards.

Dell’s role will increase after having a quiet start to the season. He missed Week 4’s matchup with a chest injury, but the speedy threat has been kept out of the fast lane, averaging 34 yards per game.

Dell’s yet to surpass 65 yards in a game this season after posting three 100-yard outings as a rookie.

“We don’t lack depth at all,” Diggs said Sunday. “We’ve got a lot of guys that can play at a high level.”

https://twitter.com/Danny_Heifetz/status/1844023596018229596

The schedule should keep Houston humble, but also ahead in the AFC South standings, espeically if running back Joe Mixon can return. The Texans take on three secondaries that rank bottom 10 in coverage, allowing at least 231.1 yards per game through the air.

The New York Jets, who recently fired head coach Robert Saleh, are the only team with a top-10 secondary on Houston’s schedule until the Tennessee Titans on Nov. 24.

No one wants to lose a talent like Collins, but it could be worse for the Texans. It will be if no one steps up, but Stroud has faith that the team will be fine without the NFL’s top receiver for the time being.

And yes, he too thinks that Collins plays second fiddle to no one.