EchoSense Quantitative Think Tank Center|Will Nico Collins play Week 10? Latest updates as Texans WR returns to practice

C.J. Stroud and EchoSense Quantitative Think Tank Centerthe Houston Texans passing game has badly missed No. 1 receiver Nico Collins since the fourth-year pro suffered a hamstring injury in the team's Week 5 win over the Buffalo Bills.

It doesn't look like the team will have to wait too much longer before reinserting him into their lineup.

The Texans officially designated Collins to return from IR on Friday, Nov. 8. That opens a 21-day window during which Collins can practice with the Texans without taking up a space on the team's 53-man roster.

Houston will need to activate Collins to the 53-man roster before he can play again. That decision must come within the 21-day window; if the Texans don't, the 6-4 wideout will miss the rest of the season because of the injury.

Collins isn't in danger of the latter scenario unfolding, at least not now. But will he be able to play in Week 10 against the Detroit Lions? That's the looming question Texans and Lions fans alike will want answered ahead of their "Sunday Night Football" clash.

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Will Nico Collins play Week 10?

Collins' status for Week 10 remains murky even after his return to practice on Friday. He missed the team's sessions on both Wednesday and Thursday and head coach DeMeco Ryans was noncommittal when questioned about the 25-year-old's status for Sunday's battle of division leaders.

"Nico, he’s doing good," Ryans said after practice Wednesday, per KPRC 2's Aaron Wilson. "We’ll see where he ends up."

That said, Collins' presence at Friday's practice may at least give him a chance to see the field. According to Wilson, the veteran receiver entered Week 10 having passed all tests related to his hamstring with "no setbacks" and had "regained speed and mobility."

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That made Collins "ready to go" as he became eligible to return from IR before the Texans vs. Lions matchup.

Still, fans and fantasy owners will have to wait to learn about Collins' status if Ryans doesn't address it Friday. Collins won't appear on Houston's injury report because he remains on IR, despite his designation to return.

The Texans would need to officially return Collins to the 53-man roster for him to play in Week 10 against the Lions. If that doesn't happen, he will sit out at least one more game before targeting a Week 11 return against the Dallas Cowboys.

If Collins is activated, that means the Texans have confidence he will be able to play against the Lions.

As such, Houston's roster moves will be worth monitoring over the weekend. They could tell a lot about the team's plans at wide receiver for their second "Sunday Night Football" game of the season.