Nico Collins injury report: Houston Texans make decision on WR

The Houston Texans (4-1) have placed star wideout Nico Collins on injured reserve, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Collins, who is dealing with a hamstring injury, will miss the next four games.

Collins, 25, sustained the injury in the first quarter of Sunday’s 23-20 Week 5 home win over the Buffalo Bills (3-2). On the receiving end of a 67-yard touchdown strike from quarterback C.J. Stroud, Collins tweaked his hamstring near the end of the play and subsequently exited the game.

The Texans initially declared Collins “week-to-week” with the injury.

“Nico, he’s in good spirits,” head coach DeMeco Ryans said Monday. “Of course, with the hamstring, it takes a couple weeks for a hamstring, so we’ll evaluate that on a week-to-week basis to see where we can get him.”

Houston Texans to rely on depth to make up loss of Nico Collins

Collins was the league’s most productive receiver in the first five weeks of the season. He leads all pass catchers with 567 yards and is in a four-way tie for third with 32 receptions. The former Michigan standout is one year removed from a breakout season in which he hauled in 80 receptions for 1,297 yards and eight touchdowns.

“I think he is the best receiver in football,” Stroud said. “When he gets out of the game, it definitely is tough on us. A lot of things are predicated toward him and planned for him.”

The Texans currently own the No. 6 ranked offense in the NFL (376.7 yards per game) and are tops in passing (272.4 yards). While losing Collins is a blow, the Texans are as deep as any team at the skill positions. Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell will likely see an uptick in targets, with Xavier Hutchinson, Robert Woods, Dalton Schultz and Cade Stover seeing more opportunities to contribute as well.

“Nobody has to go out and be Nico,” Ryans said. “There’s one Nico, he’s done a great job of that, and now whoever is next when your number is called, make the plays that you’re supposed to make.”