-
DJ Bien-Aime, ESPN
HOUSTON — Nico Collins is aware of what’s at stake as he is set to make his much-anticipated return to the soccer subject after lacking 5 video games with a proper hamstring harm.
Taking part in on prime time additionally offers him a “nice alternative” to remind the world what kind of receiver he was earlier than the harm.
“[I] received to go on the market and reap the benefits of my alternatives,” Collins mentioned. “So as to choose again up, I received to ball out when the ball touches my arms. When the ball is within the air, I’ve to do one thing with it.”
The Houston Texans began 4-1 with Collins, however in his absence they’ve received two video games in 5 weeks, together with a historic loss to the Detroit Lions once they grew to become the second group since 1933 to lose when main by 15 factors and amassing 5 interceptions.
When Collins landed on injured reserve following the Texans’ 23-20 win over the Buffalo Payments in Week 5, he was main the NFL in receiving yards (567). His 113.4 yards per recreation stays tops within the league, the Texans (6-4) are hoping he provides a spark for a struggling offense towards the Dallas Cowboys (3-6) on “Monday Night time Soccer” (8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC).
Collins got here off injured reserve and practiced the Friday earlier than the Lions recreation, however Houston determined he wanted yet another week. He practiced each day main as much as recreation day with the Cowboys, and he advised ESPN, “Hell yeah, I am taking part in” earlier than being faraway from the harm report Saturday.
Coach DeMeco Ryans mentioned he needs to see quarterback C.J. Stroud “lower it free” and “rip it,” because the second-year quarterback tries to bounce again from the third multi-interception recreation of his profession.
“Getting Nico again is at all times very nice for all of us,” Ryans mentioned. “Nico’s been certainly one of our greatest gamers when he was wholesome, so it is nice to have him again, nice to have his presence and the power that he brings and likewise the playmaking capability that he brings.”
THE TEXANS’ OFFENSE ranked sixth in whole offense (376.6 yards per recreation) with Collins, however that dipped to 299 yards (twenty fourth) with out the fourth-year receiver — and that is with operating again Joe Mixon dashing for 471 yards (third most) in that stretch. Their 165 passing yards per recreation ranked twenty ninth from Weeks 6-10.
Of their first recreation with out Collins, the offense scored 41 towards the New England Patriots, who at the moment are 3-8. However in Weeks 7-10, the unit averaged 20 factors (sixteenth) and 282.5 whole yards (twenty seventh), and Stroud’s manufacturing tailed off. His QBR of 34.5 ranked twenty seventh, however by means of the primary 5 weeks, he ranked third in passing yards (1,385), tied for tenth in touchdowns (seven) and tenth in QBR (66.2).
The Texans additionally misplaced their second-leading receiver, Stefon Diggs, to a torn ACL in his proper knee in Week 8 towards the Indianapolis Colts. However even with Diggs, following Collins’ harm, Stroud averaged 187 passing yards from Weeks 6-8 and had a career-low 86 yards within the Texans’ 24-22 loss to the Inexperienced Bay Packers in Week 7.
“I’m very excited to have my man again,” Stroud mentioned. “I’m simply pleased for him to be again with the group, be part of the locker room once more. They’re in solitude, when gamers are injured, they’re on their very own. So I’m glad he’s simply capable of be across the guys once more and have the ability to do the game that he likes to play.”
Broad receiver Tank Dell grew to become the highest goal when Diggs and Collins have been out, and Dell had 11 catches for 165 yards prior to now two video games. With Collins returning, Dell can slide into the No. 2 function, which may make life simpler for him as a result of Collins “opens up the offense.”
“Nico brings rather a lot to the desk,” Dell advised ESPN. “Defenses need to account for him. You bought to have eyes on him always. That simply opens up issues not just for the receivers however the run recreation.”
MISSING COLLINS ISN’T the one purpose for the offensive woes. The Texans’ cross block win price throughout his absence of 54.8 ranks twenty third, which is why Stroud has been underneath stress on 46.8% of his dropbacks, second-most amongst starters.
Collins has helped relieve the stress on Stroud, who has a QBR of 72 with Collins on the sphere in comparison with 41 when he is out this season. Stroud has a 133.3 passer score when he targets Collins as properly, which ranked sixth amongst duos with not less than 30 targets coming into Week 11, in line with Subsequent Gen Stats.
Collins is able to recreate a few of their magic, stating they need to “simply proceed to do what we do.”
“When [Stroud’s] again foot hits the bottom, [he’s] letting it rip,” Collins advised ESPN. “There is no higher feeling than that. Simply pleased to be feeling good and pleased to have the ability to have the chance to play this week.”
The Collins-Stroud connection is also a components the Texans want to interrupt their two-game shedding streak.
0:30
MNF Trailer: Texans vs. Cowboys
Prepare for an electrical Week 11 Monday Night time Soccer conflict when the Texans tackle the Cowboys.
Coming into Week 11, quarterbacks towards the Cowboys are averaging the second-highest passer score (105.1) within the NFL, and they’re permitting 210 passing yards per recreation (seventeenth). In addition they enable 362.9 whole yards per recreation (twenty sixth) and 28.8 factors per recreation (second most).
However as a lot as Collins’ return to the sphere might be appreciated by his teammates, his absence taught him to understand his alternatives.
“You do not know when it is going to be your final recreation, you do not know what it’s,” Collins advised ESPN. “I got here on the market robust the primary 4 weeks, then increase [injured], out of nowhere. Now I am lacking time, simply realizing this s— will not be for lengthy. It’s a must to do no matter you possibly can to offer it your all.”
