Nico Collins (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
The AFC South-leading Houston Texans have received some tough injury news on star wideout and NFL receiving leader Nico Collins, who suffered a hamstring injury in Sunday’s Week 5 home win over the Buffalo Bills.

Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Texans have placed Nico Collins on the injured reserve, meaning he’ll miss at least four weeks. The 25-year-old leads the NFL with 567 yards heading into Week 6.

It’s a tough break fo DeMeco Ryans’ Texans, who are sitting pretty atop the division with a 4-1 record. The team has also been without star running back Joe Mixon, who suffered an ankle injury in Week 2, for three weeks and counting.

After a breakout 2023 campaign that saw him notch 80 receptions for 1,297 yards and eight touchdowns, Nico Collins signed a three-year contract extension worth $72.75 million in the offseason.

The 2021 third-round pick has notched 182 receptions for 2,791 yards and 14 touchdowns over his first 44 NFL games. Collins’ efforts helped the Texans to a surprise AFC South division title last season, and they reached the Divisional Round before falling to Lamar Jackson’s Baltimore Ravens.

Houston will look to continue its hot start when they visit the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The Texans have never won in Foxborough, but they finally get a chance to change that this weekend.

Texans Other WRs Must Step Up With Nico Collins Out

Fortunately for Houston, they’re well-equipped to get by without their top offensive weapon for the time being. They have another All-Pro wide receiver in Stefon Diggs and another young stud WR in Tank Dell, who was on his way to a 1,000-yard season in his 2023 rookie year before suffering a fractured Fibula that ended his season.

Aside from the receivers, Houston has a vastly underrated and playmaking tight end in Dalton Schultz. Cam Akers has been a fine understudy at running back while the team awaits Mixon’s return, too.