Is Nico Collins playing today? Texans WR's status revealed for Week 16 clash vs. Chiefs

Nico Collins has proven over the last two years that he is capable of being the top offensive weapon for quarterback CJ Stroud and the Houston Texans. He recorded 80 catches for 1,297 yards and eight scores in 2023 and signed a $75 million, three-year contract in the offseason.

Collins will look to continue his impressive performance in the absence of teammate Stefon Diggs at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday when the Texans face the Kansas City Chiefs.

Exploring Nico Collins' availability status for Week 16 vs. Chiefs

The Houston Texans will have Nico Collins available against the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday, as the star wideout does not appear to be dealing with any injury concerns.

Collins, who had a spell on IR after suffering a hamstring injury in Week 5, made his long-awaited return to the field against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 11. He hasn't missed a Houston game since then.

Collins is available on Saturday, but the Texans will be without wide receiver John Metchie III (shoulder), tight end Cade Stover (illness), defensive tackle Folorunso Fatukasi (ankle) and offensive lineman Juice Scruggs (foot).

How has Nico Collins performed this season?

With the emergence of Tank Dell and the addition of Stefon Diggs, it was widely assumed coming into this season that the Houston Texans' offense would use Nico Collins less. However, this season, the fourth-year receiver has become the go-to player in the team's passing offense.

Collins led the NFL in receiving yards before he sustained a hamstring injury against the Buffalo Bills in Week 5. The team felt his absence in the five games he was absent, losing three of those games.

This season, the Michigan alum has also increased his level of effectiveness, catching 53 passes out of 78 targets. Compared to his 61.6% rate from the previous season, Collins has now caught more than 67.0% of his targets this season. He has also recorded 849 receiving yards and six touchdowns in nine games.

Last week's game against the Miami Dolphins demonstrated that Collins can still be very effective even when things have not gone smoothly. In that game, the 25-year-old wide receiver scored two touchdowns while recording a season-low 17 yards.

Collins' ongoing rise to the status of a top receiver in the NFL might be crucial to the Texans' postseason success this year.