C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans’ passing game have significantly felt the absence of their top receiver, Nico Collins, who has been sidelined since injuring his hamstring in Week 5 during their victory over the Buffalo Bills.

Fortunately, it appears that his return to the lineup may not be far off.

On Friday, November 8, the Texans officially designated Collins to return from Injured Reserve (IR). This designation provides a 21-day period during which Collins can participate in practice without occupying a position on the team’s 53-man roster.

To allow Collins to play again, the Texans must activate him to the 53-man roster within this 21-day period. If they fail to do so, the 6-foot-4 wide receiver will be out for the remainder of the season due to the injury.

Currently, it seems unlikely that Collins will miss the entire season. However, the big question remains: will he take the field in Week 10 against the Detroit Lions? This is what fans from both teams are eager to find out ahead of their “Sunday Night Football” matchup.

Is Nico Collins Playing in Week 10?

Collins has been included in the final injury report for the Texans this week. He was marked as “limited” during Friday’s practice and is considered “questionable” for the upcoming game against the Lions.

His status for Week 10 has been uncertain. After missing practices on both Wednesday and Thursday, head coach DeMeco Ryans was hesitant to provide a concrete update regarding the 25-year-old’s availability for the divisional showdown.

“Nico is doing well,” Ryans said following practice on Wednesday, according to KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson. “We’ll see where he ends up.”

Despite the uncertainties, Collins’ participation in Friday’s practice gives him a fighting chance of making it onto the field. According to Wilson, the experienced receiver came into Week 10 having successfully completed all necessary tests related to his hamstring with “no setbacks” and has “regained speed and mobility.”

This indicates that Collins is “ready to go” as he approached his eligibility to return from IR just before the Texans-Lions game.

If Collins is to play in Week 10, the Texans must officially add him back to the 53-man roster. If they don’t activate him, he will miss at least another game, potentially looking towards a return in Week 11 against the Dallas Cowboys.

Therefore, fans should keep an eye on Houston’s roster changes over the weekend, as these decisions could provide insights into their wide receiver strategy for their upcoming “Sunday Night Football” game.