The Houston Texans ruled out wide receiver Nico Collins for Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals with a hamstring injury, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Friday.
Collins got hurt during Wednesday’s practice. He was listed as limited that day and did not practice Thursday.
Testing showed the injury is not serious, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson reported. Wilson described it as a Grade 1 hamstring strain and said Collins was not seen at practice Friday.
The Texans lost 36-31 to the Buffalo Bills in their opener. Collins led the team with seven catches on 10 targets for 75 yards and a touchdown.
He has been Houston’s leading receiver in each of the last three seasons, topping 1,000 yards every year. Last season he caught 71 passes for 1,117 yards and six touchdowns.
Collins has made two Pro Bowls. He is 27.
Hamstring trouble has cost him time before. In 2024, Collins hurt his hamstring on a 67-yard touchdown catch against the Bills in Week 5. The Texans placed him on injured reserve, and he missed five games.
He has missed at least one game in every season since entering the league in 2021 but has never played fewer than 10 games in a year.
Houston was already thin at the position. Jayden Higgins, the team’s third-leading receiver as a rookie in 2025, tore his ACL in August and is out for the season. Tank Dell will be out until at least Week 5 as he recovers from a knee injury.
That leaves Kayshon Boutte, Xavier Hutchinson and Jaylin Noel as C.J. Stroud’s top receivers. The three combined for six catches against Buffalo.
Jared Wayne is also on the active roster. Houston carries five tight ends, including Dalton Schultz, which gives the offense room to use more multiple-tight-end sets.
The Texans signed Collins to a three-year, $72.75 million extension in 2024.
Cincinnati enters 1-0 after beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bengals forced four turnovers and sacked Baker Mayfield four times.
Joe Burrow has been dealing with back tightness this week. He said Wednesday he would not miss Sunday’s game.
Should Collins’ strain clear quickly, his next chance to return would be Week 3 at the Indianapolis Colts.
Houston hosts the Bengals at NRG Stadium on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
