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DJ Bien-Aime, ESPN
HOUSTON — Nico Collins knows what’s at stake as he’s set to make his much-anticipated return to the football field after missing five games with a right hamstring injury.
Playing on prime time also gives him a “great opportunity” to remind the world what type of receiver he was before the injury.
“[I] got to go out there and take advantage of my opportunities,” Collins said. “In order to pick back up, I got to ball out when the ball touches my hands. When the ball is in the air, I have to do something with it.”
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• THE TEXANS’ OFFENSE ranked sixth in total offense (376.6 yards per game) with Collins, but that dipped to 299 yards (24th) without the fourth-year receiver — and that’s with running back
The Texans also lost their second-leading receiver, Stefon Diggs, to a torn ACL in his right knee in Week 8 against the Indianapolis Colts. But even with Diggs, following Collins’ injury, Stroud averaged 187 passing yards from Weeks 6-8 and had a career-low 86 yards in the Texans’ 24-22 loss to the Green Bay Packers in Week 7. “I am very excited to have my guy back,” Stroud said. “I am just happy for him to be back with the team, be a part of the locker room again. They are in solitude, when players are injured, they are on their own. So I am glad he is just able to be around the guys again and be able to do the sport that he loves to play.” Wide receiver Tank Dell became the top target when Diggs and Collins were out, and Dell had 11 catches for 165 yards in the past two games. With Collins returning, Dell can slide into the No. 2 role, which could make life easier for him because Collins “opens up the offense.” “Nico brings a lot to the table,” Dell told ESPN. “Defenses have to account for him. You got to have eyes on him at all times. That just opens up things not only for the receivers but the run game.” MISSING COLLINS ISN’T the only reason for the offensive woes. The Texans’ pass block win rate during his absence of 54.8 ranks 23rd, which is why Stroud has been under pressure on 46.8% of his dropbacks, second-most among starters. Get exclusive access to thousands of premium articles a year from top writers. 0:30 MNF Trailer: Texans vs. Cowboys Get ready for an electric Week 11 Monday Night Football clash when the Texans take on the Cowboys.
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Coming into Week 11, quarterbacks against the Cowboys are averaging the second-highest passer rating (105.1) in the NFL, and they are allowing 210 passing yards per game (17th). They also allow 362.9 total yards per game (26th) and 28.8 points per game (second most).
But as much as Collins’ return to the field will be appreciated by his teammates, his absence taught him to appreciate his opportunities.
“You don’t know when it’s going to be your last game, you don’t know what it is,” Collins told ESPN. “I came out there strong the first four weeks, then boom [injured], out of nowhere. Now I’m missing time, just realizing this s— is not for long. You have to do whatever you can to give it your all.”