NFL Rumors: Texans' Nico Collins Could Make Return vs. Lions After Hamstring Injury

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins could return to the field for Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions, according to KPRC 2 Houston's Aaron Wilson.

The Texans placed Collins on injured reserve with a hamstring injury following their Week 5 win over the Buffalo Bills, which forced him to sit out the last four games. Wilson reported he "has passed all tests for hamstring, no setbacks, per league sources, regained speed, mobility, ready to go."

While Houston is still determining the 25-year-old's status, suiting up in Week 10 is a possibility.

Collins got off to a blistering start before the hamstring injury. He caught 32 passes for 567 yards and three touchdowns though the Texans' first five games. He's still the league leader in receiving yards per contest (113.4) and the only player cracking the century mark.

The impact of Collins' absence is evident in the production of quarterback C.J. Stroud.

Stroud averaged 277.0 passing yards per game with a 98.2 QB rating when the 6'4" pass-catcher was healthy. Those numbers are 188.5 and 82.4 respectively over the last four weeks.

The need for Collins to return became more pressing when Stefon Diggs suffered a season-ending torn ACL. For the time being, Houston is without its top two leading receivers.

The good news for the Texans is that they can see a light at the end of the tunnel. If Collins isn't cleared in time to play Detroit, then it stands to reason he'll be on the field in Week 11 for a road matchup with the Dallas Cowboys.