Texans’ Nico Collins practices, on track for Monday, not practicing: Kamari Lassiter, Will Anderson, Derek Stingley Jr.

HOUSTON – Nico Collins practiced Thursday on a limited basis and is on track to play Monday night against the Dallas Cowboys after missing five games with a pulled hamstring, resuming his WR1 role now for the Texans as they try to break a two-game losing streak.

Tall and fast at 6-foot-4, 222 pounds with 4.4 speed in the 40-yard dash, Collins provides a game-changing element to the Texans’ offense.

Before he pulled his hamstring against the Buffalo Bills on a touchdown catch five weeks ago, Collins was the NFL receiving yardage leader.

After was activated from designated for return from injured reserve and, ultimately, held out of a game against the Detroit Lions on Sunday night in a judgment call despite being healthy enough to play and having passed a regimen of hamstring tests and running at top speed, reaching 20 miles per hour and faster, in training sessions, Collins is set to play football again.

For a 6-4 Texans squad that leads the AFC South despite a two-game losing streak and has lost three of the past four games, Collins can be a huge difference-maker. The Texans’ passing game has been stagnant for weeks and the team was outscored 19-0 in the second half of a 26-23 collapse of a loss against the Lions at NRG Stadium.

“Any time you get a starting receiver back and Nico, a guy who’s been, before he was out, he was the top receiver in the league,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “So, I think any time you get him back, it’s going to help everybody.”

Ryans emphasized that there were no issues with Collins’ hamstring as far as any re-injury. Collins participated on a limited basis last Friday and was

“No setback with Nico,” Ryans said. “That was just a game time decision.”

Meanwhile, several key players didn’t practice Thursday.

That included starting cornerbacks Derek Stingley Jr. (hip) and Kamari Lassiter (concussion) and Pro Bowl defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (high-ankle sprain).

While Lassiter and Anderson are considered likely to be out for Monday night, Stingley is not dealing with anything serious and is expected to play against the Cowboys, per a league source.

Defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi (foot) didn’t practice as well as defensive end Denico Autry (rest day).

Several players were limited as running back Dameon Pierce (groin) returned to practice after missing two games, linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (knee), offensive tackle Blake Fisher (concussion), linebacker Jake Hansen (ankle) and offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil (knee). Tunsil missed some snaps Sunday against the Lions due to a recurring ankle injury. He had his knee drained during the offseason in a minor arthroscopic procedure.

The Texans’ top options opposite Stingley are Ka’dar Hollman and Jeff Okudah. Okudah is trending toward being activated from injured reserve-designated for return after missing the first half of the season with quadriceps and hip injuries. Okudah participated fully.

Without Collins, the passing game has suffered. That included a career-low 86 yards, 55 net yards, 10 of 21 passing and no touchdowns for Pro Bowl quarterback C.J. Stroud during a 24-22 road loss to the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Stroud completed just 11 of 31 passes, a career-low percentage, in a loss to the New York Jets. He had two interceptions and one touchdown pass against the Lions.

Without Collins, the focal point of the offense has shifted to running back Joe Mixon as he hit the century mark in four consecutive games with at least one touchdown per contest before being stonewalled by the Lions and averaging 1.8 yards per carry.

Collins is a unique wide receiver, towering over opposing defensive backs with his superior size. His speed as a long strider eats up real estate as he regularly creates separation in the secondary. His polished routes, sound hands and ability to high point the football by elevating over shorter competitors are all in the elite category.

RELATED: Texans placing wide receiver Nico Collins on injured reserve, to miss minimum of four games: Source

One of the most dominant and productive downfield threats in the game has been missed in a Texans passing game headlined by him and Stroud as their connection was interrupted.

Without Collins, the Texans have struggled to replace his production. Collins caught 32 passes before his injury and was on pace to pile up 109 catches for 1,928 yards and 10 touchdowns prior to injuring his right hamstring while catching a 67-yard touchdown pass in a win over the Bills as his leg seized up during a long touchdown catch.

“Obviously, he’s been missing some time and obviously he’s going to work his way back in there and I think he’s going to be a great addition for what we do,” Mixon said. “I think that it makes things a lot easier for everybody on the offense. He brings that juice and competitive edge, and I think that’s what we need, man. We’re going to need everybody down the stretch going forward, and it’s a great thing for Nico to be back.”

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Life without Collins has been difficult. There is no receiver like him on the roster that has his rare combination of size and speed and other traits. And the Texans lost Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs to a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

It has been a tall order for the receiving corps to replace him.

“Losing somebody like Nico is very tough,” Stroud said at the time of the injury. “Everyone understands that we’re going to miss him. I think they can. Definitely just next man up mentality. You have to be able to win football games without him for a little bit.”

• ‘True playmaker’ Nico Collins squares off against Colts after dominant performance in pivotal game last season

Read more on the Texans:

• How ‘dynamic’ Texans RB Joe Mixon joined Arian Foster, Jim Brown, Emmitt Smith in statistical benchmarks in epic season
• Source: Texans signing guard Tremayne Anchrum Jr. to practice squad
• Texans designate corner Jeff Okudah, defensive end Jerry Hughes for return from injured reserve
• Source: Texans worked out linemen La’el Collins, Tremayne Anchrum Jr, Ike Boettger, Jerome Carvin, DB Jason Taylor
• Texans rookie Jamal Hill honored by official proclamation in Georgia hometown
• Texans’ Kenyon Green dislocated left shoulder, to be placed on IR, Kendrick Green steps in, Will Anderson Jr. ankle hurt
• ‘I know I have to step up, I know I have shoes to fill,’ Texans’ Tank Dell in spotlight after Stefon Diggs’ torn ACL
• Texans Pro Bowl defensive end Will Anderson Jr. is the AFC Defensive Player of the Month
• ‘I’m just trying to be that light as much as I can,’ Texans nickel Jalen Pitre nabs first interception since rookie year

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 click2houston.com.