Nico Collins’ Return to Houston Texans Uncertain for Sunday Night Game Against Lions

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins‘ status for the upcoming Sunday Night Football game against the Detroit Lions remains uncertain. Collins has been on injured reserve since suffering a hamstring injury in Week 5 against the Buffalo Bills. Despite passing a regimen of tests with no setbacks and regaining his speed and mobility, Collins has not practiced this week, which makes his return for the Week 10 matchup a “long shot” according to ESPN‘s Field Yates.

Collins had a strong start to the season, leading the NFL in receiving yards with 567 and scoring three touchdowns on 32 catches in five games. However, his absence, combined with the season-ending ACL injury to All-Pro wide receiver Stefon Diggs, has significantly impacted the Texans’ offense. The team struggled in their Week 9 loss to the New York Jets, and Collins’ return would be a significant boost.

As of Thursday, Collins had not been designated to return from injured reserve, and his non-participation in practice suggests he is unlikely to play on Sunday. While it is not impossible for a player to miss early-week practices and still play, the odds are against Collins. The Texans will likely rely on Tank Dell as their top target, with John Metchie III, Xavier Hutchinson, and Robert Woods playing complementary roles.

The game between the Texans and Lions is scheduled for 7:20 p.m. CT on Sunday and will be nationally televised on NBC and Peacock. The final evaluation for Collins’ status will likely come on Friday, which could be crucial in determining his availability for the game.