Nico Collins returned to Houston Texans practice Wednesday, giving the 0-3 club its first meaningful on-field look at its top receiver in more than two weeks.
Reporters watching the open portion of practice saw Collins working with the team after a Grade 1 hamstring strain kept him off the field for most of the past two weeks. He has not played since the season opener.
Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney and right guard Ed Ingram also practiced Wednesday. Clowney has been dealing with a knee injury and Ingram with a groin issue. Both missed Houston’s last two games.
The official injury report later Wednesday will list each player’s participation level. Their presence on the field still marked a positive start to the week before Sunday’s home game against the Dallas Cowboys.
Collins first felt the hamstring during a midweek practice after Week 1. Team doctors described the strain as not serious at the time, and the Texans never placed him on injured reserve.
In the opener against Buffalo, Collins caught seven passes for 75 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets. Those figures led the team in receptions, yards and scores that afternoon in a 36-31 loss.
Houston then dropped a 20-6 decision to Cincinnati and a 19-17 game at Indianapolis without him. The Texans have scored 54 points through three games, an average of 18.0 per contest that ranks 24th in the NFL.
Without Collins the passing attack produced 374 total yards against the Bengals but zero offensive touchdowns. At Indianapolis the offense managed only 223 yards.
Head coach DeMeco Ryans said Monday that he’s “hopeful” to have Collins available for the Texans’ Week 4 game against the Cowboys.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported over the weekend that Collins had a “decent chance” to return in Week 4.
Collins, 27, has topped 1,000 receiving yards in each of the past three seasons. He finished 2025 with 1,117 yards on 71 catches and six touchdowns in 15 games before a concussion ended his regular season.
A hamstring injury also cost him five games in 2024. The former Michigan receiver was drafted in the third round, 89th overall, in 2021 and has been Houston’s leading receiver since C.J. Stroud arrived.
The receiver group already lost Jayden Higgins to a torn ACL in training camp. Tight end Dalton Schultz has led the team with 19 catches and 205 yards through three games while Collins has been limited to that one Week 1 appearance.
Houston is off to an 0-3 start for the second straight season. The Cowboys visit NRG Stadium on Sunday looking to keep the Texans winless.
A limited or full practice this week would put Collins in position to play, though the team may still manage his snaps if he is cleared. The injury report and Friday’s final designations will decide his status.
