The Houston Texans have been desperately searching for a second wide receiver to compliment Brandin Cooks.
Last season, Cooks saw 134 targets and turned it into his sixth 1,000-yard campaign of his career. However, beyond No. 13 quarterbacks Davis Mills and Tyrod Taylor lacked threatening perimeter weapons to challenge defenses vertically outside of garbage time. This was something that the Texans set out to rectify almost immediately during the offseason.
The team largely placed their hopes in two stocks to improve the receiver group. First, general manager Nick Caserio traded a hefty amount of draft capital during the 2022 NFL draft to move up for Alabama receiver John Metchie. Meanwhile, the team began to preach publicly that second year wideout Nico Collins was putting in an immense amount of work both on his own game and with Mills.
Last month it was announced that Metchie, who was on target to start at slot receiver and potentially draw the second most targets on the team, would miss the season with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia. When Caserio declined to bring in any serious competition to booster the receiver group, it became shockingly clear that Houston was willing to rest their passing game fate with Collins.
During Friday’s preseason contest against the Los Angeles Rams, it would appear that the Texans’ faith was justified.
Collins operated as the number one receiving option for Mills and the offense in a night where Cooks sat out. He caught four passes for 48 yards and a touchdown and flashed all of the tools that Houston was hoping for when they drafted him.
Nico Collins first down catch to open things up for Texans pic.twitter.com/Ye9MnXqIAb
— Rivers McCown (@riversmccown) August 20, 2022
He was on the same page as Mills early and both receptions went for hard earned first downs. The big bodied receiver was able to muscle his way forward to the markers make catches while absorbing contact over the middle. The “possession” receiver archetype that many have preached is needed next to Cooks was fully on display.
To end the first half, Houston got a look at something truly special. As time was expiring Mills heaved the ball towards the end zone in a play that probably reminded fans of DeAndre Hopkins. It was the type of throw where quarterbacks show faith in their receivers to just “go up and get it.”
This is exactly what you would want to see from the offense right now.
Give Davis the keys to attack vertically and look for Nico Collins, he and Brandin Cooks are just at a different talent level.
Fantastic score to end the half #WeAreTexans pic.twitter.com/376oWrDEI7
— John Crumpler (@JohnHCrumpler) August 20, 2022
Collins did exactly that. He elevated over multiple defensive backs and wrestled the ball away for a touchdown that gave Houston their first lead in a game they ultimately went on to win 24-20.
Fans have to be extremely excited about the talent that was on display Friday. That level of physicality and elevation will certainly translate as Collins transitions to facing starting NFL cornerbacks during the regular season. It won’t be a surprise if head coach Lovie Smith has seen enough and decides to bench Collins for the final preseason contest against San Francisco.
John Crumpler has written for the Texans Wire since 2019 and is a PFWA member. Follow him on Twitter @JohnHCrumpler and catch him on The Backpedal Podcast.
