John McClain, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, is in his 48th year of covering the NFL in Houston, including 45 seasons at the Houston Chronicle.
When the Texans disclosed Wednesday that Nico Collins had been placed on injured reserve, there was an immediate doomsday reaction from fans who could not imagine quarterback C.J. Stroud playing without the NFL's best wide receiver this season.
Even though the Texans will miss Collins and his 32 catches for a league-high 567 yards (17.7 average) and three touchdowns, they've proved they can win without him.
In 2023, the injured Collins missed road games against Cincinnati and Tennessee, and they defeated the Bengals and Titans by three points each. When Collins suffered a hamstring injury on his 67-yard touchdown catch for a 14-3 lead over Buffalo in the first quarter, the Texans played the last three quarters without him and beat the Bills 23-20.
Head Coach DeMeco Ryans knows Collins will be missed for at least four weeks, but he's confident other players will step up the way they did last season and in the victory over Buffalo that extended their record to 4-1 going into Sunday's game at New England, where the Texans have never won.
In 2023, Stroud squared off against Joe Burrow in Cincinnati, where the Texans generated 544 yards, including 188 rushing, without Collins. Stroud threw for 356 yards and a touchdown, and the Texans won 30-27. Former receiver Noah Brown caught seven passes for 172 yards. Tank Dell caught six for 56 and a touchdown. Tight end Dalton Schultz added four for 71 yards.
Most important, former running back Devin Singletary had the best game of his career with 30 carries for 150 yards and a touchdown. The Texans won when kicker Matt Ammendola, subbing for the injured Ka'imi Fairbairn, drilled a 38-yard field goal with no time remaining.
Fast forward to the Tennessee game. Not only were the Texans missing Collins, but Stroud didn't play because of a concussion he suffered in a loss to the Jets. Dell was out with a season-ending injury.
Case Keenum replaced Stroud and threw for 229 yards. Brown had eight receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown. Schultz contributed four catches for 58 yards.
In what turned out to be a 19-16 victory, Singletary came up big again, rushing for 121 yards on 26 carries and adding four catches for 49 yards.
With Collins out of the Buffalo game, four wide receivers, two tight ends and two running backs had at least two catches each, led by Stefon Diggs' six for 82 yards.
"There are always injuries that happen in our game, and it's an opportunity for other guys to step up," Ryans said Wednesday. "That's what the league's about. A lot of guys have stepped in when others are out, (and) they've made a name for themselves. (They've) made some big plays, so we're looking for the same thing (from) whoever it may be – guys just owning their opportunity (and) becoming playmakers.
"It's about us operating efficiently as an offense. It's never about one player. Nico, of course, he made a lot of big plays for us, and we're going to miss his explosive plays. Nico's a great player, the best receiver in the league. But I keep saying, 'Who's next? Who's going to step up? Who's going to make those plays?' We'll see."
The Texans are still loaded with talent at wide receiver and tight end. Collins' absence provides Diggs (31 catches, 315 yards, three touchdowns) and Dell (13 for 137) with the best opportunities. Schultz (14 for 116) is one of Stroud's most reliable targets, especially in clutch situations.
Running back Dare Ogunbowale has become a terrific receiver out of the backfield, averaging 10.3 yards on 15 catches.
The receiver who could benefit from more playing time is Xavier Hutchinson. He's 6-3, 210 and one of the team's best special teams players. The second-year receiver came off the bench against Buffalo and had receptions of 19 and 12 yards.
"Hutch has definitely gotten better from training camp to now," Ryans said. "He made two big catches in (Sunday's) game. He's done a great job blocking in the running game. He's continuing to show growth and get better."
Stroud has been impressed with what he's seen of Hutchinson playing in his second season.
"Just growth, somebody who puts his head down, works continuously, loves the game of football, wants to be coached and puts good stuff on film in the run game and pass game," Stroud said. "I think he showed up big in this past game (and) it's good to get him going."
Hutchinson knows what's expected of him.
"I've always tried to prepare like I was the starter," he said. "I feel like that's helped me a lot. Whatever opportunities I get, I've got to capitalize on them. I know I'm going to capitalize on those opportunities when they come my way.
"I feel like (Stroud) has supreme belief in himself, and I feel like I've earned his trust with the way I prepare every day. He's seen the growth in me he wanted to see. I believe in myself, and I know no matter what situation I get thrown into, I can make the best of it."
Stroud is blessed to have talent and depth at wide receiver and tight end, including Robert Woods, John Metchie III and rookie Cade Stover. Executive Vice President/General Manager Nick Caserio has made sure to keep the wide receiver room stocked with players the coaches can count on.
Caserio's trade for Diggs could pay off in a big way for Stroud over the next four games when the offense will have to operate without Collins.
"I think he's great," Stroud said about Diggs. "He's already a leader (and) you could tell in practice he knows his responsibility now with Nico out. That's with all of them (receivers), really.
"Everybody has to step up, myself included, to pick up the slack (when) Nico isn't playing. We have to hold each other accountable. He's (Diggs) definitely going to be at the forefront of that."
