"Is he playing?": Texans fans speculate as Nico Collins returns to practice ahead of Lions game
Houston Texans fans have started speculating about star wide receiver Nico Collins' status for Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions. Collins has been the Texans' top weapon this season and his absence the past month was a major blow, especially after Stefon Diggs' season was cut short due to an ACL injury in Week 8.
Before Diggs went down, Collins had tweaked his hamstring during a long touchdown reception against the Buffalo Bills in Week 5. Collins was spotted at practice on Friday, sparking speculation among fans who quickly asked if he was taking the field this weekend.
Some fans quickly asked NFL insider Adam Schefter if this meant Collins was playing Sunday night.
"Is he playing?" one fan asked.
"I need to know if he is playing. Hopefully, he can ball out like Chase did last night since I am going against Chase in fantasy lol," another fan said.
"Shefty any chance he’s back Sunday night??" another fan asked.
Others showed their excitement to have Nico Collins back but were cautious about the Lions' power on defense.
"Nico and Tank are gonna ball out," another fan wrote.
During Collins' absence, the Texans struggled to get things going on offense and dropped two games, one against the Green Bay Packers and the other against the New York Jets. His presence on the field would be major boost for a Texans team keen to bounce back and keep fighting for the top spot in the AFC standings.
Texans have given official designation to Nico Collins for Lions game
This short video of Nico Collins was apparently a good sign for Texans fans. The wide receiver was given a hopeful designation for Sunday's matchup and if everything goes well, Collins will be back on the field for "Sunday Night Football."
"#Texans WR Nico Collins, who just returned to practice today after missing a month with a hamstring injury, is listed as questionable for Sunday night vs. the #Lions," NFL insider Tom Pelissero reported.
Despite being out for four weeks, Collins' numbers were good enough to stay near the top of several lists. He remains No. 14 in the league in receiving yards (567) and No. 1 in receiving yards per game (113.4). He's coming back at the right moment, as the Lions are on a roll and the Texans need to bring their A-game to try to stop them.
The game is scheduled at 8:20 p.m. ET at NRG Stadium.