(© Troy Taormina-Imagn Images)B. Keith Crear IIIThu, January 15, 2026 at 1:00 AM UTC·3 min readThe Houston Texans’ 30-6 dismantling of the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night should have been a pure celebration—a statement win that signaled C.J. Stroud and DeMeco Ryans were no longer just "up-and-comers," but a legitimate AFC powerhouse. Instead, the flight to Foxborough carries a heavy cloud of anxiety.
The sight of Nico Collins being carted off in the third quarter after a violent collision with the turf wasn't just a blow to the roster, it was a gut punch to the Texans offense. As the team enters a short week to prepare for the New England Patriots, the news that Collins is in the concussion protocol, which is his second stint this season.
The "Nico Effect"You cannot overstate what Nico Collins means to this offense. He isn't just a WR1, he is the safety valve, the deep threat, and the physical enforcer all rolled into one.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Production: 1,117 yards and six touchdowns this season only tell half the story.
The Gravity: When Collins is on the field, defenses have to tilt their entire coverage toward him. This opens up the intermediate lanes for Dalton Schultz and creates space for the Texans' emerging rookie core.
The Connection: Stroud and Collins have a shorthand that takes years to develop. In a playoff environment where windows shrink and pass rushes intensify, that unspoken chemistry is often the difference between a touchdown and a punt.
A Dangerous Short WeekThe timing is particularly catastrophic. Because the Texans played on Monday night, they are operating on a six-day turnaround. In the NFL’s modern concussion protocol, every hour counts.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"We’ll see how the week goes," DeMeco Ryans told reporters, but the history is sobering. Collins already missed time earlier in the season with a concussion. Given the league's increased (and necessary) caution regarding repeat head injuries, the odds of him clearing five stages of recovery in under a week are slim at best.
The New England ChallengeWithout Collins, New England will definitely focus on the next man up wide receiver in the line up to put pressure on CJ Stroud and the offense. To be clear, Stroud didn't perform too great against Pittsburg. The Patriots are hoping for the same when Houston comes stampeding into New England. A few concerns the Texans will need to be aware of:
Double the Slot: The Patriots will likely bracket Christian Kirk, who was a hero in the Wild Card round, knowing he is now Stroud’s primary target.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementPressure the Pocket: With Collins gone, Stroud may have to hold the ball a fraction of a second longer waiting for rookies Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel to find their spots—a dangerous game against a New England front that just harassed Justin Herbert into submission.
The "Next Man Up" MantraIf there is any hope, it lies in the "Next Man Up" culture Ryans has instilled. We saw it in Week 8 when the Texans beat the 49ers without Collins. The trio of Higgins, Noel, and Xavier Hutchinson stepped up then, but the regular season is not the Divisional Round.
The Texans' defense is elite enough to keep them in any game, but to beat the Patriots, you need to score. Without the 6'4" 222 pound frame of #12 setting up at the line of scrimmage, the Texans' margin for error has vanished.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHouston proved they belong among the elite on Monday night. But to win on Sunday, they’ll need C.J. Stroud to play the best game of his young career, because his favorite target likely won't be there to catch him if he falls.
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