Texans’ top receiver out for Sunday, other key offensive players in doubt against Patriots
The Houston Texans will be without wide receiver Nico Collins this Sunday against the New England Patriots. Other Texans offensive starters could be out as well.
Most of the focus this week will likely be on the New England Patriots’ offense, as the team makes the change at quarterback from Jacoby Brissett to Drake Maye ahead of their Week 6 matchup with the Houston Texans. However, the Texans’ offense will be facing it’s own questions heading into this game.
Most notably, the team will be without its top receiver. That was made official on Wednesday, with the team placing Nico Collins on IR according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Collins suffered a hamstring injury in the Texans’ Week 5 win over the Bills.
Collins had a breakout season for the Texans last year, catching 80 passes for 1,297 yards and eight touchdowns. Prior to his injury the 25-year-old picked up where he left off last year, and through five weeks leads the NFL with 567 receiving yards on 32 catches.
Without Collins, the Texans’ biggest offseason acquisition will be in the spotlight. That’s wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who was acquired via trade from the Buffalo Bills.
Going back to his time with the Bills, Diggs has often been an issue for the Patriots. In eight career games against the Patriots in Buffalo Diggs averaged 6.3 catches and 81.6 yards per game with seven touchdowns. The Texans will be looking to get a similar kind of performance from him on Sunday.
With a top wide receiver out leaning on the running game can also be helpful, but the Texans might be limited there too. The status of top running back Joe Mixon is also up in the air.
Mixon hasn’t played since Week 2, when he suffered a high ankle sprain. He wasn’t on the field for the Texans’ first practice of the week, on Wednesday.
With Mixon out, the Texans’ running game has leaned on Cam Akers. Akers has rushed for 148 yards on 38 carries over the first four games.
