Nico Collins was unable to complete the Houston Texans’ Wild Card round game in the NFL Playoffs against the Pittsburgh Steelers. They were able to advance without him, but his concussion diagnosis is a concerning one. This puts his availability against the New England Patriots in the Divisional Round in serious jeopardy.
Nico Collins Injury Update
Collins has been the leading wide receiver for the Texans this year as they get ready to take on the Patriots in the Divisional round of the NFL Playoffs.
He’s in legitimate danger of missing the game after suffering a concussion last week, which is his second one of the 2025 season. Dr. David Chao gave a concerning update during his recent appearance on the “Ross Tucker Podcast” and provided a potential timeline for his return.
“Earlier this season, Nico Collins had a concussion already, so this is his second one this season. Rule of thumb, though not absolute: First concussion, at least a week. Second concussion in the same season, a month … it’s unlikely that he will return,” explained Dr. Chao.
“Rule of thumb… first concussion, at least a week. Second concussion in the same season, a month.”@ProFootballDoc on how long Texans WR Nico Collins could be out: pic.twitter.com/bViSwVJSwD
— Ross Tucker Podcast (@RossTuckerPod) January 15, 2026
If the doctor is accurate that Collins may miss about a month after suffering his second concussion this season, not only is his potential availability for this week in jeopardy, but he could be in danger of missing the rest of the playoffs, regardless of how far the Texans advance. He reminded that a neutral third-party specialist must clear him, so the importance of this being a postseason game is essentially irrelevant.
His potential absence would be a significant blow to the Texans’ offense, as he has been their most crucial wide receiver by a substantial margin. He ranked 12th among all NFL players in his position in PFSN’s Impact Rankings, while no other Houston receiver ranked inside of the top 40 this season.
Collins recorded just three receptions for 21 yards against the Steelers before his early exit, but the Texans still earned a blowout victory, primarily due to their dominant defensive performance. They are likely to have a much bigger challenge in their next game against the Patriots, who finished this season with an impressive 14-3 record.
The Patriots shut down the Los Angeles Chargers’ offense in the Wild Card round and have proven to be one of the most balanced teams all season long. The Texans will enter as underdog,s and potentially being without their top wide receiver theoretically decreases their chances of pulling off an upset.
