Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins has been cleared to play Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys after a hamstring injury sidelined him for two games. Collins carries no injury designation into the game after being a full participant in Friday’s practice, according to CBS Sports.
Collins’ return is a significant boost for an 0-3 Texans team. The Nico Collins injury kept him out of Houston’s past two games, during which the offense managed just 23 combined points.
What the team said on Nico Collins injury status
Collins progressed from limited participation Wednesday and Thursday to full participation Friday, clearing him for Sunday with no injury designation, per CBS Sports and Yahoo Sports.
Linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair was ruled out against Dallas with a groin injury, according to the Houston Chronicle. Al-Shaair played through the injury in last week’s loss to the Colts but did not practice this week. Coach DeMeco Ryans said Wednesday it’s possible Al-Shaair could miss “some time.”
Receiving corps impact
Collins’ return restores Houston’s clear top target in the passing game. The Chronicle called his addition this week “a major development” for a Texans offense that scored just 23 points combined across the two games he missed. With Collins sidelined, Houston’s receiving workload shifted to its other options, but no single player replicated his role as the primary downfield threat.
Right guard Ed Ingram is also expected to return after missing two games, which the Chronicle described as potentially just as important for reviving Houston’s run game. A healthier offensive line could ease pressure on quarterback C.J. Stroud and open up play-action opportunities that benefit Collins and the rest of the receiving corps against Dallas’ secondary.
Season context
Collins’ production before the hamstring injury set the bar. In Houston’s Week 1 loss to the Buffalo Bills, he caught seven passes for 75 yards and a touchdown. The Texans scored just 23 points combined in the two games without him.
What’s next
Collins and the Texans host the Cowboys on Sunday as Houston looks for its first win of the season at 0-3. For more on the matchup, see Cowboys vs Texans preview.
Reporting from CBS Sports, Yahoo Sports and Houstonchronicle contributed to this story.
