Injury to star receiver Collins puts damper on Texans' best start since 2012

HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Texans improved to 4-1 with a thrilling victory over Buffalo on Sunday for their best start since opening the 2012 season with five straight wins.

But the win came with a cost as Nico Collins, who leads the NFL with 567 yards receiving, injured his hamstring and will likely be out this week.

Collins left the 23-20 victory Sunday after scoring on a 67-yard reception late in the first quarter.

Coach DeMeco Ryans didn't answer directly when asked if he would play on Sunday, but his answer made it sound as if Houston could be without him for a while.

“He’s in good spirits (but) of course, with the hamstring, it takes a couple of weeks for a hamstring,” Ryans said Monday. “So we’ll evaluate that on a week-to-week basis to see when we can get him back.”

If he’s unable to play Sunday, it will put even more stress on an offense that is already without running back Joe Mixon. He had 159 yards rushing in the team’s opener but was injured in Week 2 and hasn’t played since. Ryans said he's improving but was unsure when he'd be back.

The Texans built a 20-3 lead against the Bills but struggled offensively for most of the second half with Collins out.

Quarterback C.J. Stroud threw an interception and had his first fumble this season on a sack in the fourth quarter to allow the Bills to tie it, before Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 59-yard field goal won it on the final play.

“The first half went really well. We were moving the ball like we wanted, running the ball,” Stroud said. “In the second half … we were just shooting ourselves in the foot again, just taking penalties. I missed a couple of reads on my throws and had the two turnovers. When you play like that, you give them opportunities to come back.”

Stefon Diggs led the Texans with six receptions for 82 yards Sunday and Stroud complimented his play and the contributions of the rest of the team’s receivers. But he admitted that losing Collins really changed things.

“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.”

Ryans agreed and said it will take a team effort to make up for the loss if Collins can't play.

“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.”

What’s working

Houston limited Josh Allen to a season-low 131 yards passing. He completed just one of his first nine passes and finished 9 of 30.

“It took a valiant effort from everybody,” Ryans said. “It was a collective effort. D-line knew we weren’t going to get many sacks against him because he’s so elusive in the pocket. We had to keep rushing and keep the pressure on him … it was that collective effort of rush and coverage being tied together.”

The Texans are allowing 154 yards passing a game, which ranks third in the NFL entering Monday’s game.

What needs help

The Texans continue to struggle to run the ball with Mixon and backup Dameon Pierce out with injuries.

Cam Akers and Dare Ogunbowale combined for just 72 yards rushing on 24 carries on Sunday. Houston ranks 23rd in the NFL by averaging 104.2 yards rushing a game. The Texans have surpassed the 100-yard mark just once since the opener when they had 101 yards rushing against the Jaguars.

Stock up

DE Dylan Horton had a tackle Sunday in his first game back since recovering from late-stage cancer. Horton was diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer of the lymph nodes, on Dec. 1. He announced that he was in remission in March.

“It was a blessing,” he said. “It was great just being in this position and being able to come through whenever my number is called on and just having the opportunity to go out there and just be part of the team.”

Stock down

Ogunbowale in the running game. He had six receptions for 57 yards, but managed only 2 yards a carry and 15 carries.

Injuries

RB British Brooks injured his knee Sunday. … S Jimmie Ward sustained a groin injury against the Bills. … OT Tytus Howard missed the Buffalo game with a hamstring injury but is expected to return this week.

Key number

773 — Fairbairn made three field goals and two extra points Sunday to pass Kris Brown (767) and become the franchise’s all-time leading scorer with 773 points.

Next steps

The Texans must wait to see if Collins has recovered before they travel to New England on Sunday for the first of consecutive road games. If he can’t go, Diggs and Tank Dell will need to do more against the Patriots to pick up the slack.

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl