Nico Collins Set to Return for Texans Against Cowboys

The Texans are getting a major piece of their passing game back. Nico Collins is set to play Sunday against Dallas after missing Houston’s last two games with a hamstring injury.

Collins was a full participant in Friday’s practice and carries no game designation on the NFL’s Week 4 injury report. Houston’s official site had already documented his return to practice earlier in the week; the final report makes the change in his availability clear.

Why Houston needed this update

Collins caught seven passes for 75 yards and a touchdown in the season opener. His absence has left C.J. Stroud without one of his most proven targets while the Texans have started 0–3. Getting him back gives Houston’s quarterback another established option against a Dallas defense preparing for Sunday’s game in Houston.

That doesn’t erase the work still in front of the Texans. They need the offense to find a steadier rhythm, and one returning receiver can’t fix every problem. But Collins’ availability changes what Houston can ask of its passing game.

Kris’s Take

This is the first Texans update in a while that should make their offense feel like itself again. Collins gives Stroud a receiver defenses have to respect at every level, and he makes life easier for the rest of the group. The real test is whether Houston can turn that attention into sustained drives. After an 0–3 start, a healthy top target is a welcome development—but the Texans need to show more than one player can change the direction of a season.

Sources

The NFL’s official Week 4 injury report lists Collins as a full participant for Houston’s Sunday game against Dallas. The Texans’ team report documents his return to practice, and Reuters/Field Level Media reported Friday that he is set to return after missing two games.

No photo is included: I could not verify a reuse-cleared image showing Collins in his current Texans uniform.