HOUSTON – Texans star wide receiver Nico Collins has been officially cleared under the NFL mandatory concussion protocol after practicing for two consecutive days without symptoms.
Collins passed a baseline neurological exam after missing one game against the San Francisco 49ers. He suffered the head injury when his head crashed into the artificial turf at Lumen Field during a loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
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“Feel great, blessed to be off the protocol, feeling good, man,” said Collins, who was a full participant in practice Thursday after being limited Wednesday. “Feeling good, feeling excited about this week’s great matchup, Denver coming in, great team. Man, excited to be back, though.”
When Collins first got hurt, it was obvious that he wasn’t feeling like himself. He appeared woozy as he headed inside the blue medical tent on the sideline in Seattle before being ruled out for the remainder of the game.
“I did,” Collins said. “I hit my head hard, just regular head, hitting the ground hard, just seeing those little flashes, whatever, just what it is. But I’m all good now, that’s all that matters and I’m ready to play this week.”
#Texans star receiver Nico Collins @lbg_nico7 officially cleared under #NFL concussion protocol, feeling 'great' symptoms gone after hard landing in #Seahawks game @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/IcfL7FHbYo
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) October 30, 2025
Collins, 26, signed a three-year, $75 million contract last year that included $52 million guaranteed.
He is the go-to guy for quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Named to the Pro Bowl for the first time last season, Collins has caught 26 passes for 339 yards and three touchdowns this year on 46 targets. He caught 68 passes for 1,006 yards and seven touchdowns last season, one year after a breakthrough 80 catches for 1,297 yards and eight touchdowns.
The former third-round draft pick from the University of Michigan should provide a boost to the offense, along with having slot receiver Christian Kirk back from a hamstring injury.
Having Collins and Kirk back to go with the emergence of receivers Jaylon Noel, Jayden Higgins and Xavier Hutchinson gives Stroud and offensive coordinator Nick Caley more options as far as downfield targets.
“Yeah, it’s the same, man,” Collins said. “Everybody stepping up, which is a great thing. That’s what you want as a team. You want to go out and operate. You go step up and make plays. I’m glad to see my boys out there making plays, the entire team, on both sides of the ball.”
Collins wanted to compete against Broncos Pro Bowl corner Patrick Surtain, the NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He is out, though, with a pectoral injury.
“I wish nobody missed a game,” Collins said. “I just wish speedy recovery with him, man, with his pec, whatever he got going on, issues. Definitely, it was gonna be a great matchup. Always, good on good, and that’s what you want. So, man it sucks that he not out there, man.”
NOTES: Tight end Dalton Schultz missed his second practice in a row with knee and shoulder injuries, but coach DeMeco Ryans has said he expects him to return later in the week.
Defensive linemen Denico Autry (knee) and Dylan Horton (knee) returned to practice on a limited basis. Running back Woody Marks was added to the injury report as limited with a calf injury.
Upgraded to full participation: Kirk, fullback Jakob Johnson (hamstring) and nickel Jalen Pitre (foot).
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and clck2houston.com