Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins remains in the NFL’s concussion protocol following an injury sustained during Monday night’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks. With the team having a Week 8 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Collins’ status remains pending as he has yet to return to practice.
Nico Collins Injury Update
Nico Collins exited the Week 7 game in the fourth quarter after a hard fall while attempting to catch a back-shoulder pass from quarterback C.J. Stroud. Covered by Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe, Collins landed with the back of his head, hitting the turf, and was in discomfort. He was evaluated in the medical tent and later ruled out with a concussion.
Nico collins concussion, on the sidelines for now pic.twitter.com/TsYJW9bBv4
— Tedd Buddwell 🏀🏈 (@TedBuddy8) October 21, 2025
Houston coach DeMeco Ryans confirmed the diagnosis postgame, calling the situation “concerning” and saying that the team would monitor Collins throughout the week on Tuesday.
“Nico is one of our best players,” Ryans said. “It’s concerning. Some things you can’t control and try do the best you possibly can.”
The wide receiver must complete the NFL’s five-step concussion protocol before being cleared to return. The Texans played on Monday night and will return to the field on Sunday, giving Collins one fewer day to progress through the protocol. Players who return from concussions usually begin practicing in some capacity by midweek.
Collins did not participate in Wednesday’s practice, which is notable given the shortened recovery window.
Based on this, Collins’ availability for Sunday appears unlikely. The Texans will release their injury designations later in the week, and until then, Collins’ participation in practice will be an indicator of his return.
#Texans WR Nico Collins (concussion protocol) & WR Christian Kirk (hamstring) are both NOT practicing, per @Djbienaime pic.twitter.com/plbWEN2MJj
— OurSF49ers (@OurSf49ers) October 22, 2025
According to PFSN’s wide receiver Impact Score, Nico Collins has a score of 76.6 through six games, which gives him a C grade and ranks him 36th this season.
Apart from Collins, wide receiver Christian Kirk is also managing an injury and did not practice on Wednesday due to a hamstring issue. The Texans have thus elevated wide receiver Jared Wayne from the practice squad to the roster, according to Sports Illustrated. Wayne, a second-year player from Pittsburgh, spent the first seven weeks of the season on the practice squad.
With Collins and Kirk uncertain for Week 8, Houston may need to turn to other options such as Xavier Hutchinson, Jayden Higgins, and Jaylin Noel. Tight end Dalton Schultz could also see increased involvement in the passing game.
