Nico Collins’ Concussion Sparks Urgent Questions About Texans’ Playoff Hopes After Seattle Showdown

Monday night was a tough pill to swallow for the Houston Texans, who found themselves not just overwhelmed on the scoreboard by the Seattle Seahawks but also sidelined by the loss of their standout wide receiver, Nico Collins. The 26-year-old was tackled hard while making a crucial grab—a play that unfortunately ended with him hitting his head on the turf and being diagnosed with a concussion. Despite putting up modest numbers that night, Collins’ absence is deeply felt across the team, especially as they look ahead to their upcoming clash with the San Francisco 49ers. With Collins clearly a linchpin for quarterback C.J. Stroud, his health as the week unfolds could very well steer the Texans’ momentum moving forward. LEARN MORE

The Houston Texans experienced two major losses Monday night. The team was essentially blown out by the Seattle Seahawks in Week 7, and lost its star player in the process.

Wideout Nico Collins sustained a concussion with the team in comeback mode in the fourth quarter. Collins was injured while trying to make a contested catch on the sideline. As he was being knocked to the ground, Collins smacked his head off the turf.

Collins, 26, was taken to the blue medical tent and eventually ruled out due to a concussion. He finished the contest with four catches for 27 yards.

After the contest, a 27-19 loss, Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said Collins will be evaluated “as the week goes on,” per ESPN. The Texans play the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

Losing Collins for any period would be a big blow to the Texans. Collins is the only wideout on the team with more than 15 catches so far. Xavier Hutchinson and Christian Kirk are the only two other wide receivers with double-digit catches this season. Tight end Dalton Schultz actually leads the team with 30 receptions.

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After modest production during his first two seasons, Collins developed into one of the game’s best receivers in Year 3. He gained 1,297 yards that year, scoring eight touchdowns. Collins put up similar production last season, cementing himself as an elite wideout and C.J. Stroud’s most reliable target.

After a fantastic rookie season, Stroud has seen his performance stagnate. He was critical of his play following the team’s Week 7 loss Monday. If Collins is unable to go in Week 8, Stroud could find it tough to put points on the board against a feisty 49ers defense.