Texans star WR Nico Collins (hamstring) will return vs. Cowboys

Texans standout receiver Nico Collins indicated Friday that he will be back in the lineup when Houston visits the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night.

Collins has missed the past five games with a hamstring injury. He came off injured reserve last week but still missed Houston's 26-23 loss to the Detroit Lions.

Collins was a limited practice on Thursday before being a full participant on Friday.

"Just happy to be feeling good and happy to be able to have the opportunity to play this week and just continue to pick back up where I left off," Collins told reporters Friday.

Collins was off to a stellar start with three 100-yard outings over the first four games before being injured in Week 5 during a victory over the Buffalo Bills.

Collins, 25, was the NFL's leading receiver at the time of the injury. He recorded 32 catches for 567 yards and three touchdowns in five games.

Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud has struggled in recent weeks so it's no surprise he is happy that Collins will be on the field.

"It is huge. I am very excited to have my guy back," Stroud said. "I am just happy for him to be back with the team, be a part of the locker room again. They are in solitude, when players are injured, they are on their own. So, I am glad he is just able to be around the guys again and be able to do the sport that he loves to play."

Collins, in his fourth campaign, set career-highs in 2023 with 80 receptions, 1,297 yards and eight touchdowns.

--Field Level Media