Texans Lose Key Player Before Match Against Patriots

The Houston Texans are gearing up to face the New England Patriots in the AFC Divisional Round, but they’ll be missing a crucial player from their offense. Star wide receiver Nico Collins, who suffered a concussion during the recent playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, did not participate in practice this week and is officially sidelined.

This absence is a blow for the Texans, particularly for quarterback C.J. Stroud, who relied heavily on Collins throughout the season. Collins appeared in 15 games this year, amassing 71 catches, 1,117 receiving yards, and six touchdowns.

At 26, Collins has put together three straight seasons with over 1,000 receiving yards and has been selected to the Pro Bowl for the past two years. In May 2024, he signed a lucrative three-year, $72.75 million contract, further establishing his role as the leading receiver for the team.

In light of Collins’ absence, Christian Kirk will need to step up again following his impressive performance against the Steelers. In that game, he recorded eight catches for 144 yards and one touchdown, effectively leading the team when they needed it most. This kind of contribution from Kirk is essential now, especially since he hadn’t previously exceeded four receptions or 64 yards in any regular-season game.

With Collins out, Stroud will have to depend on Kirk and also call on wide receivers Jaden Higgins and Xavier Hutchinson, along with tight end Dalton Schultz, to fill the gap.

As if the challenge weren’t great enough, the Patriots are reportedly getting their top cornerback, Christian Gonzalez, back on the field after he cleared concussion protocol.

The fifth-seeded Texans are set to take on the second-seeded Patriots on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET, and it will certainly be a test for them without one of their primary offensive threats.