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DJ Bien-Aime, ESPN
HOUSTON — Nico Collins says he’ll be back on the field for the Houston Texans when they take on the Dallas Cowboys on “Monday Night Football.”
“Hell yeah, I’m playing this week,” he told ESPN on Friday.
The star receiver missed the Texans’ last five games after suffered a hamstring injury in a 23-20 win over the Buffalo Bills in Week 5. He came off injured reserve and practiced last Friday ahead of Houston’s matchup against the Detroit Lions but didn’t play.
He was limited in practice Thursday and then upgraded to a full participant Friday this week.
“Just going out there, being with my brothers,” Collins told ESPN. “There’s no better feeling than that. Just happy to be feeling good and happy to be able to have the opportunity to play this week and just continue to pick back up where I left off.”
The return of Collins couldn’t come at a better time for the Texans.
Through the first five weeks, he led the NFL in receiving yards (567), and quarterback C.J. Stroud benefitted from his presence, ranking third in passing yards (1,385), tied for 10th in touchdowns (seven) and 10th in QBR (66.2).
But since Collins’ injury, Stroud’s production has tailed off. He ranks 17th in yards (986), tied for 19th in touchdowns (5) and 25th in QBR (41.3).
Stroud also lost his No. 2 target in former All-Pro wideout Stefon Diggs, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in a 23-20 Week 8 win over the Indianapolis Colts.
With Collins back, one of the NFL’s most prolific duos can boost a struggling offense that is averaging just 8.1 points in the second halves of games this season (tied for 27th in NFL). The Stroud-Collins connection produced a 133.3 passer rating, which ranked sixth among duos with at least 30 targets.
“It is huge. 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.”
The Texans’ passing attack faces a Cowboys defense that has allowed 210 passing yards per game (17th in NFL), 15 touchdowns (10th) and a passer rating of 105.1 (second highest).
With Collins back, coach DeMeco Ryans said he is excited to see what that does for an offense that averaged 24.4 points (13th) and 299 yards per game(24) in his absence.
“Getting Nico back is always very great for all of us,” Ryans said. “Nico’s been one of our best players when he was healthy, so it’s great to have him back, great to have his presence and the energy that he brings and also the playmaking ability that he brings. Happy to have him back and really proud of him for the work he’s put in to get himself back.”