Tag: Nico Collins recieivng

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.

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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.

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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.”

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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.