How Texans Nico Collins plans to top breakout 2023 season
The Houston wide receiver has high aspirations after a massive season with C J Stroud under center
Chargers rule out Bosa Slater Herbert still iffy
HOUSTON -- When Nico Collins signed his rookie deal with the Houston Texans in 2021, one of his long-term goals was earning a contract extension.
When the wide receiver was walking toward the Texans locker room on May 28, Collins' agent Drew Rosenhaus called.
It was a quick call, as Rosenhaus told his client "congrats'' after sealing a three-year, $72.75 million extension, becoming the first draft pick under general manager Nick Caserio to be extended. But for 2024, Collins has new goals: The former third-rounder out of Michigan has his eyes set on exceeding his 2023 season when he had 1,297 yards (ranked eighth) and eight touchdowns (tied for eighth).
"I'm trying to get 1,500 yards, minimum. That's what I'm chasing," Collins told ESPN. "I'm chasing the dudes that I've been watching for years. Julio Jones, Calvin Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, successful receivers that made the game look so easy."
Before 2023, Collins had 927 receiving yards and three touchdowns through two seasons. But quarterback C.J. Stroud came in last season and saw a "superstar" in him in their first training camp.
Collins validated Stroud's preseason assessment by emerging as his No. 1 receiver for a Texans' offense that ranked eighth in passing yards per game (243.6). Collins' breakout helped Stroud lead the league in passing yards per game (274) en route to a Pro Bowl season as a rookie.
But to Stroud, it's only the beginning as they enter Year 2 together. And if Collins can reach his goal, he would become the third Texan wideout to reach that mark, joining DeAndre Hopkins and franchise all-time leading receiver Andre Johnson, who is being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August.
"When [Collins'] number is called, he always makes a play," Stroud said. "He's a generational talent. He's like our age's Andre Johnson, in my opinion, just how fast he is, how he gets in and out of his breaks, releases, how strong he is. I think last year was just a preview of what's to come for him."
Collins believes reaching the next level will center on the small details. He's doing extra drills after practice to improve his footwork. He's also challenging himself by catching passes when fatigue sets in to prepare for when those critical moments arrive during the season.
While the team believes in Collins' capability, the abundance of talent on the Texans' offense -- which is a preferred circumstance for them -- could impede his production.
The Texans enhanced their receiver room by trading for Stefon Diggs, who has six straight 1,000-yard seasons, to pair with Collins and Tank Dell, who finished with 709 yards in 11 games before breaking his leg. They also bolstered the running back room by trading for 2021 Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon and re-signed tight end Dalton Schultz.
Collins sees this as a chance for those on the offense to feed off each other. And during OTAs and mandatory minicamp that was on display.
When Diggs drew attention from the Texans' defense, Collins took advantage of the extra space over the middle. If Diggs and Collins weren't open, Stroud could throw it to Dell. If not, he had Schultz and Mixon underneath.
Even though Collins has lofty goals for himself, winning is at the forefront. So, if the Texans win at a high level, he'll be more than fine with the statistical trade off.
"It's gonna be hard for defenses," Collins said. "I feel like for us it will give everybody else opportunities to shine and win. That's our mission. We are trying to win a Super Bowl. Can't be selfish, have to be a team player. Got to have joy for your brother when he makes a play."
Paris St Germain s unbeaten start to their Ligue 1 season continued on Friday with a comfortable 3-1 win over Rennes at the Parc des Princes that saw Bradley Barcola score twice to keep them top of the standings
The Internationals trailed in only one match and that was for only one hole in a sweep of the Americans that evened the Presidents Cup entering two sessions Saturday -- four matches of four-balls followed by four matches of foursomes
Ange Postecoglou has said that Erik ten Hag has done a great job at Old Trafford and that criticism should be expected as Premier League coaches are always under pressure
Deebo Samuel indicated a decision on his status likely will come closer to Sunday s kickoff Trent Williams however has a toe injury putting his availability up in the air
Kings defenseman Drew Doughty is considered month-to-month following an ankle injury that will require surgery the team announced Friday
["Premier League Arsenal versus Leicester City kick off 15:00 Sat 28 Sep 2024? Follow live text commentary, score updates and match stats from Arsenal vs \nLeicester City in the Premier League.","Team news: Raya fit to start against Leicester? Mikel Arteta has named the same 11 players that started against Manchester \nCity last week in his starting line-up for today's Premier League","Arsenal XI vs Leicester: Starting lineup, confirmed team news, injury \nlatest for Premier League game today? David Raya fit to start in a huge boost for the Gunners.","How to watch Arsenal vs. Leicester in Canada: Live stream, channel, time, \nlineups for Premier League match? Arsenal vs. Leicester kickoff time: Here's how to watch the Premier League \nmatch on TV and live stream in Canada as well as the latest team","Nwaneri question, Havertz decision, Trossard return - Best Arsenal midfield \nfor Leicester named? Mikel Arteta has some tough decisions to make when it comes to Arsenal's \nmidfield against Leicester City.","Steve Cooper confirms Leicester injury situation ahead of Arsenal clash? Leicester boss Steve Cooper has confirmed that he is not expecting any \nplayers to return from injury before Saturday's trip to Arsenal.","Sutton's predictions: Arsenal v Leicester? Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this \nseason, against a variety of guests. For week six, he takes on","How to watch Chelsea vs Brighton on US TV and live streaming? Here are all of the details of where you can watch Chelsea vs Brighton on \nUS television and via legal streaming:","Alan Shearer predicts Arsenal will make massive change after Man City drama? Arsenal take on Leicester City in the Premier League looking to continue \ntheir unbeaten start to the season after recording a dramatic draw","3 talking points ahead of Arsenal vs Leicester? Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber started at left-back and right-back \nrespectively against Manchester City and should continue in these","Premier League Chelsea versus Brighton & Hove Albion kick off 15:00 Sat 28 \nSep 2024? Follow live text commentary, score updates and match stats from Chelsea vs \nBrighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League.","Chelsea vs. Brighton & Hove Albion, Premier League: Live blog; highlights? Chelsea look to make it four wins in a row, three in the league, and five \ngames unbeaten overall in all competitions.","Chelsea vs Brighton \u2013 Team News: Malo Gusto returns? Chelsea face Brighton at Stamford Bridge in just under an hour, and the \nteams are in!It's the exact lineup we were expecting, with just one","Noni Madueke and Moises Caicedo drop Chelsea team news hint as Enzo Maresca \nconfirms injury blow? Chelsea will be looking to extend their winning streak when they welcome \nBrighton to Stamford Bridge.","Confirmed Chelsea line up vs Brighton and Hove Albion | News | Official Site? Enzo Maresca has made ten changes to his Chelsea side for this afternoon's \nPremier League clash against Brighton and Hove Albion at Stamford","Chelsea vs Brighton: LIVE Updates, watch live, score, analysis, highlights? The top-four pushes of Chelsea and Brighton go head-to-head at Stamford \nBridge on Saturday, where Enzo Maresca's long clean sheet streak","How to watch Chelsea vs. Brighton in UK: Live stream, channel, start time, \nlineups for Premier League match? Chelsea host Brighton for the Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge, \nLondon on Saturday. The home-team come into the tie having scored","The key attacking, defensive and goalkeeping stats behind Chelsea\u2019s good \nstart? Chelsea's stat pack for today's game against Brighton makes fascinating \nreading. The Blues are in good form and the numbers back that up.","Liverpool vs. Wolves LIVE STREAM (9\/28\/24): Time, TV, channel for Premier \nLeague? Liverpool face Wolverhampton in a Premier League game on Saturday, \nSeptember 28, 2024 (9\/28\/24) at Molineux Stadium in Wolverhampton,","Chelsea boss Maresca speaks on injury prone Lavia? The midfielder has barely featured for the club so far this term, despite \nhaving been fit in preseason. Advertisement. Advertisement.","Preview: Rayo Vallecano vs. Leganes - prediction, team news, lineups? Rayo Vallecano will be looking to stretch their unbeaten run in La Liga to \nfour matches when they continue their 2024-25 campaign at home to","Rayo Vallecano vs. Leganes Prediction by Proven Computer Model [9\/28\/2024]? Our detailed prediction and analysis for the Rayo Vallecano vs. Leganes La \nLiga game on September 28, 2024 is featured below.","Rayo Vallecano vs Leganes: Match Preview and Prediction? Date: September 28, 2024 Time: 17:15. Location: Madrid, Vallecas. La Liga \n2024-25, Matchday 8Rayo Vallecano \u2013 LeganesWhere to Watch: MEGOGO,","Watch Rayo Vallecano vs. CD Leganes Online: Live Stream, Start Time? The upcoming match between Rayo Vallecano and CD Leganes is set to see the \n10th-placed Vallecano take on 15th-placed Leganes.","Rayo Vallecano vs Leganes Prediction and Betting Tips | September 28th 2024? Rayo Vallecano will welcome Leganes to the Estadio de Vallecas in La Liga \non Saturday. Vallecano have two wins in seven games and are in","Watch Rayo Vallecano vs. CD Leganes Online: Live Stream, Start Time? Discover how to live stream and get game time information for the LaLiga \nmatchup between Rayo Vallecano and CD Leganes.","Rayo Vallecano vs. Leganes Prediction, Odds, La Liga Picks [9\/28\/2024]? Rayo Vallecano and Leganes will lock horns in La Liga at Estadio de \nVallecas on Saturday, with kickoff at 10:15AM ET.","Best Bets Today for All Sports: Saturday's Picks Include Leganes vs. Rayo \nVallecano La Liga Play [9\/28\/2024]? Another big day of sports is upon us, with our innovative computer model \nworking hard to provide you with the best bets for Saturday,","Best Bets Today for All Sports: Friday's Picks Include Leganes vs. Rayo \nVallecano La Liga Play [9\/27\/2024]? Another great day of sports is upon us, with our revolutionary computer \nmodel working hard to provide you with the best bets for Friday,","UEFA Women\u2019s Champions League 2024: Big returns, historic firsts, and how \nto watch every match for free on DAZN? The UEFA Women's Champions League (UWCL) is back and bigger than ever, with \nthe 2024 group stage promising to deliver some of the best","European champion Barcelona gets Man City in group stage of Women\u2019s \nChampions League? NYON, Switzerland (AP) \u2014 Two-time defending champion Barcelona will play \nManchester City in a Women's Champions League group after the","UWCL group stage draw: Stefano Braghin's comments? After Juventus Women's First Team's excellent two-legged victory against \nPSG in Round 2 of the UEFA Women's Champions League, the draw for","Women's Champions League Draw: Chelsea and Celtic drawn together in group \nstage? Former finalists Chelsea and debutants Celtic are drawn together in the \ngroup stage of the Women's Champions League.","Women\u2019s Champions League: group-by-group analysis and predictions? Chelsea have a kind draw and Arsenal should progress despite a tricky group \nas Celtic face a huge challenge after reaching this stage for","Women's Champions League draw: Man City face Barca in group stage? NYON, Switzerland (AP) \u2014 Two-time defending champion Barcelona will play \nManchester City in a Women's Champions League group after the","Women's Champions League group stage draw made? Barcelona vs Man City, Lyon vs Wolfsburg and Bayern vs Arsenal are among \nthe fixtures set up by the group stage draw.","Women's Champions League draw: Man City to face holders Barcelona; Arsenal, \nChelsea and Celtic learn opponents? Womens Champions League kicks off on October 8 with debutants Man City in \nGroup D with last years winners Barcelona, SKN St Polten and","Real Madrid to face Chelsea, Twente and Celtic in Women's Champions League \nGroup B? Our team's first game will be played on 8 or 9 October, while the last \nclash is set for 17 or 18 December.","This is whom Real Madrid will face in the UWCL group stage? The group stage for the 2024\/2025 season of the UEFA Women's Champions \nLeague was held in Nyon today at 13:00 CEST (local time)."]
How to watch Arsenal vs. Leicester in Canada: Live stream, channel, time,
lineups for Premier League match? Arsenal vs. Leicester kickoff time: Here's how to watch the Premier League
match on TV and live stream in Canada as well as the latest team
How to watch Chelsea vs Brighton on US TV and live streaming? Here are all of the details of where you can watch Chelsea vs Brighton on
US television and via legal streaming:Chelsea vs. Brighton & Hove Albion, Premier League: Live blog; highlights? Chelsea look to make it four wins in a row, three in the league, and five
games unbeaten overall in all competitions.
Chelsea vs Brighton: LIVE Updates, watch live, score, analysis, highlights? The top-four pushes of Chelsea and Brighton go head-to-head at Stamford
Bridge on Saturday, where Enzo Maresca's long clean sheet streak
Chelsea boss Maresca speaks on injury prone Lavia? The midfielder has barely featured for the club so far this term, despite
having been fit in preseason. Advertisement. Advertisement.Watch Rayo Vallecano vs. CD Leganes Online: Live Stream, Start Time? The upcoming match between Rayo Vallecano and CD Leganes is set to see the
10th-placed Vallecano take on 15th-placed Leganes.
Best Bets Today for All Sports: Saturday's Picks Include Leganes vs. Rayo
Vallecano La Liga Play [9/28/2024]? Another big day of sports is upon us, with our innovative computer model
working hard to provide you with the best bets for Saturday,
UWCL group stage draw: Stefano Braghin's comments? After Juventus Women's First Team's excellent two-legged victory against
PSG in Round 2 of the UEFA Women's Champions League, the draw forWomen's Champions League group stage draw made? Barcelona vs Man City, Lyon vs Wolfsburg and Bayern vs Arsenal are among
the fixtures set up by the group stage draw.