Texans lose star receiver for crucial playoff showdown vs Patriots due to a concussion

The Houston Texans are going to beryllium without 1 of their apical violative weapons for their AFC divisional circular matchup against the New England Patriots.

Star wide receiver Nico Collins, who sustained a concussion successful the team’s wild-card circular triumph implicit the Pittsburgh Steelers Monday, has been ruled retired aft not practicing astatine each this week.

The nonaccomplishment of Collins is simply a large 1 considering he's backmost C.J. Stroud’s apical target. In 15 games this season, Collins caught 71 passes for 1,117 yards and six touchdowns.

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Nico Collins of the Houston Texans exits the tract during an NFL wild-card playoff shot crippled against the Pittsburgh Steelers astatine Acrisure Stadium Jan. 12, 2026, successful Pittsburgh. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

The 26-year-old has had 3 consecutive seasons of implicit 1,000 receiving yards and has made the Pro Bowl each of the past 2 seasons. Collins signed a three-year, $72.75 cardinal declaration successful May 2024, solidifying him arsenic the team’s apical receiver.

Christian Kirk had a large crippled successful the Texans’ triumph implicit the Steelers Monday night, and the squad mightiness request him to replicate that performance.

Kirk had 8 catches for 144 yards and 1 receiving touchdown, which each led the squad during the win. It was a breakout show for Kirk erstwhile the Texans needed it most.

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Houston Texans wide receiver Christian Kirk (13) celebrates with wide receiver Nico Collins (12) aft a touchdown during the archetypal fractional against the Pittsburgh Steelers successful Pittsburgh Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (Justin Berl/AP Photo)

Kirk hadn’t had much than 4 receptions oregon 64 yards successful a crippled during the regular season, making his playoff show basal out.

Without Collins, Stroud volition besides beryllium relying connected wide receivers Jayden Higgins and Xavier Hutchinson and choky extremity Dalton Schultz, successful summation to Kirk.

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Making matters worse for the Texans, the Patriots’ No. 1 cornerback, Christian Gonzalez, cleared concussion protocol and is expected to play, according to aggregate reports.

The No. 5-seeded Texans instrumentality connected the No. 2-seeded Patriots Sunday astatine 3:30 p.m. ET.

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