Nico Collins (hamstring) not practicing Friday

KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson reports that a source familiar with the situation has already said the expectation is that Collins will not play in Week 3 against the Colts. We’ll see how he progresses throughout the week when the team releases its first injury report on Wednesday. If Collins is unable to play, the Texans will likely be looking at having Xavier Hutchinson, Kayshon Boutte, and Jaylin Noel as their top three receivers next week.

He had already been ruled out and is in jeopardy of missing Week 3 as well. The Texans ruled out Collins, Jadeveon Clowney (knee), Jake Hummel (groin) and Ed Ingram (groin) on Friday. Joining them as healthy scratches are TE Brevin Jordan, CB Collin Wright, and T Nate Thomas.

The Texans received relatively good news from initial testing, which revealed a Grade 1 hamstring injury. Even so, word around the team is that they are preparing to be without their star receiver for two games, which makes sense considering his lengthy soft tissue injury history. Fantasy managers will want to make alternate plans after losing one of their top selections off the board.

Collins was added to the injury report on Thursday and will miss Week 2 with yet another soft tissue injury. Considering his lengthy history of hamstring issues, we would not be surprised if this turned into a multi-game absence for the talented alpha. Expect Kayshon Boutte to see an uptick in routes, while it is likely Xavier Hutchinson kicks to the perimeter to make room for Jaylin Noel in the slot. Collins’ absence benefits veteran tight end Dalton Schultz the most, whom enters the TE1 ranks in a matchup made in heaven against the inside-funnel Bengals.

Collins suffered a hamstring injury during Wednesday’s practice and his status for Week 2 is now up in the air. NBC Houston’s Aaron Wilson reports it is a grade one hamstring strain. A DNP today is a bad sign for his availability, though the Texans may take things down to the wire given his importance to the team. Fantasy managers should make contingency plans in case Collins is ruled out before Sunday’s game against the Bengals. Xavier Hutchinson and Kayshon Boutte will have some low-end FLEX appeal versus the Bengals if Collins doesn’t suit up.

Collins suffered the hamstring injury during yesterday’s practice and immediately met with doctors. The team doesn’t believe the issue is serious, but that’s a cold comfort for a player with an extensive history of soft tissue injuries. Kayshon Boutte and Xavier Hutchinson will take on every-down roles if Collins misses Week 2. Neither player would push past the WR4 fantasy ranks. Second-year wideout Jaylin Noel would also see more work, though the team has been reluctant to play him much so far.

Collins popped up on the Texans’ injury report as a limited practice participant Wednesday. It’s unclear if Collins injured it during Week 1 or during practice, but soft tissue injuries tend to pop up as players ease back into the swing of the season. Collins has a history of hamstring issues and is undergoing testing for the severity of the latest injury. With Jayden Higgins (ACL) out for the season, the Texans will need Kayshon Boutte to step up fast in a banged-up pass-catching group. Also limited was EDGE Will Anderson, though there should be no concerns there as he was listed for rest. Fantasy managers should monitor practice reports later in the week to get a better idea of Collins’ health.

Collins remains the easy target leader for the Texans but they continue to rest him often — he played just 57-of-79 snaps. The touchdown strike was a post over the middle in the red zone that C.J. Stroud dotted in the only spot it could be placed. Collins adjusted to catch it. He’ll be a low-end WR1 against the Bengals in Week 2.

The new deal guarantees his contract for the next two seasons while also adding an additional $9 million in 2026 and $8 million in 2027. The contract will still expire entering the 2028 season, with the veteran alpha also recently stating that he would like to play the entirety of his career in Houston. Agents Drew and Jason Rosenhaus negotiated the amendment and are likely to get back to the negotiating table entering the 2027 season.

Collins, 27, signed a three-year, $75 million extension through 2027 back in 2024. As things currently stand, he is the 18th-highest paid wide receiver in terms of average annual value. NBC Sports Houston’s Aaron Wilson believes the team could restructure the deal for salary cap purposes, but Collins “is also likely due for a raise at some point and additional years on his contract.” He adds that the Texans could choose to address those issues “this year or before next season.” Per Over The Cap, the Texans have more than $19.3 million in salary cap space this year, but just over $1.6 million next year. Figuring out a new deal with a hefty signing bonus could free up cash for next season.