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DJ Bien-Aime, ESPN
HOUSTON — Nico Collins knows what is at stake as he is ready to make his long-awaited return to the football field after missing five games with a right hamstring injury.
Playing in prime time also gives him a “great opportunity” to remind the world what kind of receiver he was before the injury.
“[I] I have to go out and take advantage of my opportunities,” Collins said. “In order to recover, I have to throw the ball when the ball touches my hands. “When the ball is in the air, I have to do something with it.”
The Houston Texans started 4-1 under Collins, but in his absence they won two games in five weeks, including a historic loss to the Detroit Lions when they became the second team since 1933 to lose while leading by 15 points and amassing five. interceptions.
When Collins landed on injured reserve following the Texans’ 23-20 win over the Buffalo Bills in Week 5, he led the NFL in receiving yards (567). His 113.4 yards per game remains the best in the league, the Texans (6-4) hope he adds a spark to a struggling offense against the Dallas Cowboys (3-6) on “Monday Night Football” (8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC).
Collins came off injured reserve and practiced on Friday before the Lions game, but Houston decided he needed one more week. He practiced every day leading up to game day with the Cowboys and told ESPN, “Hell yeah, I’m playing” before being removed from the injury report on Saturday.
Coach DeMeco Ryans said he wants to see quarterback CJ Stroud “get loose” and “tear apart” as the second-year quarterback tries to bounce back from the third multi-interception game of his career.
“Getting Nico back is always fantastic for all of us,” Ryans said. “Nico has 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.”
THE TEXANS OFFENSE ranked sixth in total offense (376.6 yards per game) under Collins, but that fell to 299 yards (24th) without the fourth-year receiver, and that’s with running back Joe Mixon rushing for 471 yards (third most) in that stretch. His 165 passing yards per game ranked 29th from Weeks 6-10.
In their first game without Collins, the offense scored 41 against the New England Patriots, who are now 3-8. But in Weeks 7-10, the unit averaged 20 points (16th) and 282.5 total yards (27th), and Stroud’s production declined. His QBR of 34.5 ranked 27th, but through the first five weeks, he ranked third in passing yards (1,385), tied for 10th in touchdowns (seven) and 10th in QBR (66.2).
The Texans also lost their second-leading receiver, Stefon Diggs, to a torn ACL in his right knee in Week 8 against the Indianapolis Colts. But even with Diggs, after Collins’ injury, Stroud averaged 187 passing yards in Weeks 6-8 and had a career-low 86 yards in the Texans’ 24-22 loss to the Green Bay Packers in Week 7.
“I’m really excited to have my guy back,” Stroud said. “I’m happy that he’s back with the team, he’s part of the locker room again. They’re alone, when players get injured, they’re alone. So I’m glad he can be around the guys again and be able to play the sport.” who loves to practice.
Wide receiver Tank Dell became the top target when Diggs and Collins were out, and Dell had 11 catches for 165 yards in the final two games. With Collins’ return, Dell can move into the No. 2 role, which could make his life easier because Collins “opens up the offense.”
“Nico brings a lot,” Dell told ESPN. “Defenses have to take him into account. You have to keep an eye on him at all times. That opens things up not only for the receivers but also for the running game.”
COLLINS MISSING IS NOT the only reason for the offensive problems. The Texans’ pass-blocking success rate during his absence of 54.8 ranks 23rd, which is why Stroud has been under pressure on 46.8% of his dropbacks, the second-most among starters.
Collins has helped ease the pressure on Stroud, who has a QBR of 72 with Collins on the field compared to 41 when he’s out this season. Stroud has a 133.3 passer rating when also targeting Collins, who ranked sixth among duos with at least 30 targets in Week 11, per Next Gen Stats.
Collins is ready to recreate some of their magic, saying they have to “keep doing what we do.”
“When [Stroud’s] the back foot hits the ground, [he’s] Let it blow,” Collins told ESPN. “There’s no better feeling than that. “Just happy to feel good and happy to get the opportunity to play this week.”
The Collins-Stroud connection could also be a formula the Texans need to snap their two-game losing streak.
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MNF Trailer: Texans vs. Cowboys
Get ready for an electric shock of Monday night football in Week 11 when the Texans take on the Cowboys.
Heading into Week 11, quarterbacks against the Cowboys are averaging the second-highest passer rating (105.1) in the NFL and are allowing 210 passing yards per game (17th). They also allow 362.9 total yards per game (26th) and 28.8 points per game (second most).
But as much as his teammates appreciate Collins’ return to the field, his absence taught him to appreciate his opportunities.
“You don’t know when your last game will be, you don’t know what it will be,” Collins told ESPN. “I came out strong the first four weeks, then boom [injured]out of nowhere. Now I’m wasting time, just realizing that this shit isn’t for long. “You have to do everything possible to give it your all.”
