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DJ Bien-Aime, ESPN
HOUSTON — Houston Texans extensive receiver Nico Collins had his third 100-yard receiving sport this season Sunday, prompting coach DeMeco Ryans to name the wideout, who leads the NFL in receiving yards, an “All-Professional.”
The Texans defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 24-20, and quarterback C.J. Stroud threw the profitable landing move to working again Dare Ogunbowale with 18 seconds left to enhance Houston’s report to 3-1.
Collins was an instrumental a part of the win, with 11 catches for 151 yards and a landing. He now has a league-best 489 receiving yards.
Coming into the season, there was an expectation the Texans’ receiving trio of Stefon Diggs, Tank Dell and Collins would share the ball, with Stroud calling the offense a “five-headed monster.”
However by 4 weeks, it is clear Collins is the Texans’ No. 1 wideout.
“Nico is deserving of all of the reward and all of the credit score that he is getting,” Ryans mentioned. “He is one of many high receivers within the league, and he is exhibiting it. He does not have to speak about it. He is simply exhibiting it by what he does on a game-to-game foundation. He is confirmed that he is among the best. He needs to be All-Professional, Professional Bowl, all these accolades ought to come to Nico as a result of he is proven it each single week.”
Collins referred to as his sturdy begin to the season his “normal,” as he has essentially the most receiving yards for a Texans receiver by the primary 4 video games in franchise historical past surpassing five-time All-Professional DeAndre Hopkins (443) in 2018.
“These are the forms of achievements you wish to have. It is early, however it’s a nice place to be in proper now,” Collins mentioned. “For me, proceed to be myself. Do not be snug and proceed to construct.”
Stroud completed the sport with 345 passing yards and two touchdowns. There have been moments when the Jaguars’ protection pressured the quarterback to scramble, however Stroud and Collins saved the offense in these moments, as they linked for 102 yards from scramble drills, in accordance with the NFL’s Subsequent Gen Stats.
Ryans mentioned the connection between Stroud and Collins is so simple as “Nico is open,” and Stroud mentioned these prolonged performs are as a result of Collins is “fast on his ft.”
“Once I first met Nico down on the sector in OTA [last season] I advised him, ‘Man you are a celebrity and I am going to make sure that individuals know that,'” Stroud mentioned. “He is at all times somebody that I lean on. … He is a heck of a participant. I am tremendous pleased with him.”
After signing a three-year, $72.75 million contract extension within the offseason, Collins advised ESPN his objective was to beat his 2023 season when he had 1,297 yards (ranked eighth) and eight touchdowns (tied for eighth), and to get a minimum of “1,500 [yards] minimal.”
Proper now, Collins is on tempo to shatter that offseason objective and hit what could be an NFL report of two,078 yards. However the former 2021 third-round decide is not trying that far forward at a possible historic season.
“It is a marathon. It is a lengthy sport. It is a lengthy season,” Collins mentioned. “Simply proceed to be me, proceed to submerge within the deep finish, block out distractions, proceed to be myself. … Do not get snug.”
