A key offensive player for the Texans is nearing a return.
Wide receiver Nico Collins (hamstring) was activated from injured reserve on Saturday, one day following his return to the practice field. He remains questionable for Houston's prime-time game against the Detroit Lions on Sunday night.
Collins suffered the hamstring injury in the Texans' Week 5 win over the Buffalo Bills and was soon placed on IR. At the time of his injury, the fourth-year WR led the league with 567 receiving yards, but remains the NFL's leader with 113.4 receiving yards per game despite missing four games.
In Collins' absence, the Texans went 2-2, and the C.J. Stroud-led offense struggled over that span, which included the loss of Stefon Diggs to a season-ending knee injury in Week 8.
A return of Collins, who had 32 receptions for 567 receiving yards and three touchdowns on the season (five games), would be a big boost for a Houston team looking to avoid its first losing streak of the season come Sunday night against the first-place Lions (7-1).
While it remains to be seen if Collins will take the field on Sunday night, Saturday's transaction was the first step in that process.
