Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans knows that if he and his team want to come out on the correct side of the win-loss column, featuring 2024 Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins is a good idea more often than not.
For C.J. Stroud, the Texans head coach’s instructions are clear.
The Texans fell 14-9 to the Los Angeles Rams. Collins finished the contest with three receptions for 25 yards on five targets.
C.J. Stroud Urged to Target Nico Collins More After Texans’ Loss
GettyNico Collins #12 of the Houston Texans warms up before facing the Carolina Panthers.
Ryans was clear that, ideally, they would be able to target Collins as desired. However, they did not put themselves in a position to do so against the Rams. Ryans said that if the Texans clean up those other issues, matters like Collins’ target share will resolve themselves.
But the goal is always to “throw it to Nico as many times as we can.”
“Of course, we want to get the ball to Nico. He’s one of our best players. But offensively, I just think when you go back to the game on Sunday, and we have so many plays where we’re kind of playing behind the sticks, and we’re not doing things that we’re trained to do – we’re not doing things conducive to staying on track, and being able to run our offense in that type of fashion, it’s going to be hard to get the ball to a certain player here or there,” Ryans told reporters on September 9.
“That’s not where you want to operate as an offense. So, we just got to come back this week, just do the things that we’re coached to do, make sure we’re staying on track offensively, making sure everybody’s on the same page, and we’re just putting ourselves in position to make positive plays. And when we have those positive plays, then it opens up the offense for us to be able to get the ball to whoever we want to get the ball to.”
Stroud echoed Ryans about the Texans’ offense being behind the sticks too often in Week 1, leaving offensive coordinator Nick Caley with “his hands tied around his back.” Stroud pointed to the Rams playing “shell” coverages to limit his ability to connect with Collins and others.
“Just play shell. A lot of Tampa-2, a lot of disguised Cover-2, and played over the top,” Stroud told reporters on September 7. “They did a good job of that.”
Stroud had 188 yards, 0 touchdowns, and 1 interception on 70.4% completion.
Nico Collins Expected to See ‘Avalanche of Targets’
GettyNico Collins #12 of the Houston Texans looks on before facing the Carolina Panthers.
Collins had 68 receptions, 1,006 yards, and 7 touchdown grabs for the Texans in 2024. He saw five or fewer targets in two of his 12 games played. He had seven-plus targets in eight outings, so positive regression is likely and even expected following Ryans’ comments.
“Nico Collins is about to see an avalanche of targets in the next game,” NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein posted on X in reaction to Ryans’ comments.
Collins downplayed the significance of his quiet day, tipping his cap to the Rams like Stroud did.
Collins had 68 receptions, 1,006 yards, and 7 touchdown grabs for the Texans in 2024.
Stroud said during his media availability on September 3 that missed connections with Collins can lead to “hard conversations” and positive outcomes. He also mentioned telling Collins, “I’d be doing him a disservice if I didn’t make him a superstar,” in one of their first conversations.
Game 1 of the 2025 season was not the result Collins, Stroud, Ryans, or the Texans wanted. They have another chance in Week 2 at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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