As reported by plenty of outlets, including Adam Schefter of ESPN, Nico Collins is missing today’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals because of a hamstring injury he suffered in practice last week.

The injury happened on Wednesday and couldn’t practice on Thursday and Friday. Hence, the Texans officially ruled him out. The silver lining is that team doctors don’t believe the issue is serious or long-term.

Texans WR depth chart vs Bengals without Collins

The Texans WR room is already very thin. They lost WR2 Jayden Higgins to an ACL tear before the beginning of the season, Tank Dell is on IR, and now Collins is out. Hence, who will CJ Stroud throw to now?

• Kayshon Boutte
• Xavier Hutchinson
• Jaylin Noel
• Jalyn Bond

Who will be the primary weapons for CJ Stroud vs Bengals?

Kayshon Boutte immediately steps up as the team’s WR1 against the Bengals. Then, it’s tight end Dalton Schultz the one who could get plenty of targets as he is already an escape valve for Stroud. Now, he will also be primarily his best target.

Stroud needs to be sharp and witty, as the Bengals have a revamped defensive line that will be able to stop the run and put pressure on him. Hence, he needs to make his progressions fast and be accurate.

The news is particularly concerning because Collins remains one of the most important players in Houston’s offense. He opened the 2026 season with seven receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills, immediately showing why he is such a critical part of Stroud’s passing attack.

Now, the Texans will have to find a way to replace their top receiving weapon against Cincinnati. Collins’ injury is not currently believed to be severe enough to require injured reserve, but the team will have to be cautious with a player who has dealt with hamstring problems before.

Nico Collins ruled out vs. Bengals

Houston officially ruled Collins out Friday after he missed Thursday’s practice following the hamstring injury. The Texans will therefore enter Sunday’s game without their primary offensive weapon, forcing Stroud and the coaching staff to adjust their approach against Cincinnati.

The timing is especially difficult because Collins had just delivered another strong performance in Week 1. He was targeted 10 times against Buffalo and caught seven passes, including a touchdown, giving Stroud a reliable option capable of making plays at all levels of the field.

Collins has also dealt with injuries throughout his career, including a hamstring injury in 2024 that forced him to miss five games. His history makes the Texans’ decision to keep him out understandable, particularly this early in the season when rushing him back could create a bigger problem.

How will C.J. Stroud replace Nico Collins?

Without Collins, Houston is expected to rely on a group effort rather than simply replacing his production with one player. Xavier Hutchinson, Kayshon Boutte and Jaylin Noel could all see expanded opportunities, while the Texans could also use more formations featuring multiple tight ends.

That puts additional pressure on Stroud, although Houston’s offensive coordinator Nick Caley has expressed confidence in the team’s depth and in the quarterback’s ability to distribute the football. The Texans targeted 11 different players in their Week 1 loss to Buffalo, showing that the offense has other options beyond Collins.

Still, there is no easy way to replace a player of Collins’ caliber. The Texans are already without Jayden Higgins after his season-ending ACL injury, making Collins’ absence another significant setback for a receiving corps that has been hit hard by injuries. For Stroud, Sunday’s game against the Bengals will now be another test of how effectively Houston can move the ball without its biggest offensive weapon.

A significant factor was Bills’ head coach, Joe Brady, who secured the first victory of his career. Allen credited the coach for coming up with a game plan that suited the Bills’ offensive skills. “We love chunk plays,” Allen said, per Bills analyst Ajay Cybulski. “That’s how you score 36 points. You give yourself the opportunity to go score in 4 or 5 plays instead of the long, methodical 14, 15 plays.”

The quarterback had a massive day, proving essential in keeping Buffalo ahead as the Texans pushed until the very end. Allen completed 20 of 29 passes for 334 yards. Tight end Dalton Kincaid was his top receiver, catching five passes for 130 yards.

Allen’s late-game heroics and historic stats

The spectacular Allen had the ball in his hands late in the fourth quarter, throwing a go-ahead touchdown pass to Joshua Palmer with less than two minutes to play. Allen then had to wait on the sidelines while the Texans drove back down the field, hoping the Buffalo defense would get the job done.

This time, the Bills survived the late Houston drive, as Greg Rousseau recorded his second strip-sack of the day by bringing down Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud. Terrel Bernard recovered the loose ball, giving the Bills a thrilling triumph in the season opener.

Allen, who also rushed for two touchdowns, now has 303 career touchdowns, making him the first player in NFL history to reach 300 in his first nine seasons. He is also 20th on the all-time rushing touchdowns list, tied with Frank Gore and Otis Anderson and one behind Corey Dillon.

It marked Allen’s ninth career game with two passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns, five more than any other player in NFL history, with Steve Young second at four. Since entering the league in 2018, Allen has logged 18 games in which he has rushed for two or more touchdowns.

Stroud looks to remain in Houston for the long term, seeking a contract extension. However, NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that they will not complete talks before the 2026 season gets underway for them. As a result, the 2027 offseason will be pivotal for both parties.

“The Houston Texans and quarterback C.J. Stroud made a run at completing a contract extension before the regular season begins, but both sides agreed they now prefer to wait until after this season to work out a long-term deal.” Schefter wrote.

What is next for the Texans and Stroud

C.J. Stroud looks to prove his worth as a star quarterback. He knows he must elevate his level of play to get the contract extension he wants with the Texans, making this season a crucial one for Stroud.

Stroud missed three games due to injury in 2025, going 9-5 in his 14 starts. He completed 273 passes for 3,041 yards with 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions, while recording 48 rushes for 209 yards and a touchdown. In the playoffs, he put up 41 completions for 462 yards, two touchdowns, and five interceptions.

The Texans will seek to improve upon their 12-5 record from the previous season. They also intend to make the playoffs for the fourth straight season for the first time in franchise history and reclaim the AFC South title.

Stroud’s track record

Stroud is entering his fourth season as Houston’s starter under center. He immediately excelled after the Texans selected him with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, earning Offensive Rookie of the Year honors as well as a Pro Bowl nod.

While Stroud was not as efficient over his next two seasons compared to his inaugural year, he still threw for 6,768 yards and 39 touchdowns against 20 interceptions over that span.

Speaking to DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN, Stroud was candid in speaking about the question marks that surround his future with Houston if another disappointing season is recorded. “Pressure is a privilege,” Stroud said. “I’m excited. I’ve always been challenged in my career. I’ve always had to persevere through things, and I think this is something that I’m grateful for. I didn’t wake up and forget how to play football.”

Additionally, Stroud gave insight into the last few months and how he is “proud” of himself heading into 2026. “I have things that I want back and mistakes that I made. But truly, God has worked through my shortcomings. If I was perfect, I wouldn’t be able to be coachable or have the fear of God. So I’m glad that I have made mistakes,” Stroud said.

Stroud unbothered by criticism

Stroud is aware that comments and criticism will always be present, and what matters most is learning to handle them while reinforcing the mindset that pressure is a privilege.

“People are quick to use Twitter,” Stroud said. “I focus on me. I can’t control [social media], so why would I care?… So the more opinions people have, the more opportunity that I have to prove who I am.”

Contract extension in doubt

Stroud’s contract rumors hit a wall with the general manager’s response. Nick Caserio responded to the report that Stroud turning down an extension would have paid him $50 million in the NFL, according to a post on X by Luis Ortiz.

“I’m not gonna comment on anything contractually,” Caserio said. “We’ve never done that before. We’ve had good discussions, I’d say, with his representatives. Like we do with a lot of different players. So, at some point there’s an agreement put in place, great. If not, then it’s something we’ll probably address in the offseason.”

There are several doubts and growing criticisms surrounding the potential contract extension. It does seem a little odd that Stroud would turn away from the $50 million offer, according to Sports Illustrated.

“Five quarterbacks are making $51 to $53 million a season,” Jared Koch wrote. “And five are making $55 million a season: Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, Jordan Love, Trevor Lawrence, and Matt Stafford. Just two creep into that $60 million-plus range: Patrick Mahomes and Dak Prescott.” And while he has shown flashes of what he is capable of, he is not yet at Mahomes’ level.

“He’s built for everything,” the wide receiver said, via ESPN‘s DJ Bien-Aime. “We believe in him, we love him. This is the best position he can be in right now. I feel like he is about to go out and show the whole world what he’s made of, and I can’t wait. We got his back 100 percent, all the way.”

The Texans’ depth chart was bolstered by the arrival of Kayshon Boutte, who joined the team this season to replace Jayden Higgins. It remains to be seen whether Stroud will ultimately be able to rely on his receivers, Nico Collins included, to put together a strong year in Houston.

Building on last season’s success

C.J. Stroud kept things rolling in his 2025 campaign with H-Town, throwing for 3,041 yards, 19 touchdowns, and just 8 interceptions across 14 starts despite missing a bit of time. He completed 64.5% of his passes (273 of 423) for a solid 92.9 passer rating, while tacking on 209 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground to help steer Houston right back into the postseason.

However, their playoff run came to a painful end in the Divisional Round against the New England Patriots, falling 28–16 after Stroud suffered a brutal night with 4 first-half interceptions—including a costly pick-six—that completely derailed the offense.

What is Stroud’s contract situation?

Stroud is heading into the 2026 season playing on the final year of his original four-year rookie deal, though Houston already locked up his fifth-year option for 2027. While the Texans made a solid offer rumored to put him in the $50 million-a-year quarterback club, both sides haven’t reached a long-term agreement yet.

With general manager Nick Caserio setting a hard deadline to pause talks once the regular season kicks off, Stroud seems totally fine betting on himself this year and letting his agent handle the business while he focuses on ball.

Parsons was recently asked who he thinks will lead the league in sacks this season, and he named Will Anderson Jr. “That Houston team, they set the standard of how football is played. I tip my hat to them. I think Will Anderson Jr. is going to lead the league in sacks this year, 18 sacks. This is the year he really breaks out,” Parsons said on Bleacher Report.

It wouldn’t be a surprise if Anderson led the league in sacks, and with the help he has on the defensive line, somebody is bound to have a good season. Anderson could very well be that player, having already shown glimpses of what he can do last season.

Another stat Anderson already leads

Anderson is not only aiming to lead the league in sacks, according to Parsons, but it is also a fact that he is one of the highest-paid edge rushers in the NFL — another reason why expectations surrounding him are so high.

The position has handed out a lot of money to players in recent years, with 29 edge rushers currently set to make at least $16 million per season in average annual salary, led by Anderson, who is earning an average of $50 million per season.

Anderson Jr. has company on the list of the top-paid edge rushers in the NFL. The Packers’ Micah Parsons ranks second at $46.5 million per season, with the Detroit Lions’ Aidan Hutchinson third at $45 million per season.

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ T.J. Watt is fourth among the highest-paid NFL edge rushers with an average salary of $41 million per year. Danielle Hunter comes in fifth with a salary of $40.1 million per season.

The Texans’ other top options

Outside of Anderson, the Texans have Danielle Hunter, Sheldon Rankins, Jadeveon Clowney and others to pick up the load, and they’ll be causing problems for offenses this season.

The Texans have the chance of being one of the better teams in the AFC this season, but it may come down to how they perform on offense. With a few injuries hurting them on that side of the ball last season, they weren’t able to find much of a rhythm, but they did just enough to stay in the fold.

How to watch Panthers vs Texans in the USA

The Houston Texans vs. Carolina Panthers preseason game will be available to watch live in the USA through Fubo and NFL+.

Can I watch Panthers vs Texans for free?

Fubo offers a 5-day free trial that can be used to watch the game. The current listings promote a free trial and specifically feature the Houston Texans at Carolina Panthers game as available to stream live on the platform.

Match Preview: What’s at stake?

The Panthers vs. Texans preseason finale is less about the final score and more about the decisions that come immediately afterward. With the regular season approaching and roster cuts looming, both teams will use the matchup to make final evaluations on players fighting for roster spots, particularly those competing for depth roles.

Houston enters the final week after a 22-20 loss to the Raiders, while Carolina has one more preseason game to evaluate its roster before turning the page to the regular season.

For the Texans, the final preseason game comes at a particularly important moment. Houston has several position battles still being shaped by injuries and recent roster moves, including questions at wide receiver, running back, linebacker and along the offensive line.

The team also recently added Kayshon Boutte while dealing with the season-ending injury to Jayden Higgins, making the final preseason reps valuable for players trying to secure one of the remaining spots on the 53-man roster.

The Panthers have a different consideration heading into the finale: how much work to give their starters. Carolina has already played an additional preseason game because of its appearance in the Hall of Fame Game, and the coaching staff must balance evaluation with keeping key players healthy.

What time is the Panthers vs Texans match?

The Panthers vs Texans game kicks off on Friday, August 28, at 7:00 PM ET at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. The Texans’ official schedule lists the game at 6:00 PM CT, while the Panthers and NFL list the kickoff at 7:00 PM ET.

• Eastern Time: 7:00 PM
• Central Time: 6:00 PM
• Mountain Time: 5:00 PM
• Pacific Time: 4:00 PM

Carolina aims to bounce back from a tough campaign last season, counting on additions like running back AJ Dillon and tight end Darren Waller to jumpstart the offense.

Houston also looks to contend, relying on offseason acquisitions David Montgomery, Logan Hall, and Reed Blankenship to make an immediate impact on both sides of the ball.

Who is the starting quarterback for Panthers vs. Texans?

Kenny Pickett and Kyle Trask are expected to split playing time. Haynes King is sidelined with a hamstring injury and Bryce Young will be resting for this matchup against Houston Texans, according to head coach Dave Canales.

Dalton should see snaps as well, giving Carolina valuable depth and insurance behind their starter. If he gets the chance to play, he could be a great support in the offense, as any injury could happen during the NFL regular season.

Who is the starting quarterback for Texans vs. Panthers?

Davis Mills and Brett Rypien are expected to lead the offense, as CJ Stroud will be resting for this preseason finale against the Panthers, according to head coach DeMeco Ryans. However, Stroud is expected to lead the Texans unit eager to establish momentum heading into Week 1.

Both squads come in off contrasting performances: Carolina earned a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, while Houston dropped a close one to the Las Vegas Raiders.

Boutte now emerges as one of the top options in the passing game for C.J. Stroud, joining Nico Collins and Jaylin Noel. Further down the receiving corps are Xavier Hutchinson, Tank Dell, and Lewis Bond.

How does the picture look in Foxborough now? Drake Maye’s top receiving options are A.J. Brown, Romeo Doubs, and DeMario Douglas. Behind them are Kyle Williams, Mack Hollins, and Efton Chism III.

Complete Houston wide receiver depth chart

Little by little, it seems the injury blows are being addressed for DeMeco Ryans and the Houston Texans. With the arrival of the experienced Boutte, Stroud now has another weapon to hurt opponents through the air. In 2025, the WR recorded 33 receptions for 551 yards and six touchdowns.

New England’s receiving corps

The offseason was a busy one for the New England Patriots, who bolstered their passing attack with the additions of A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs. Both players are expected to take on prominent roles following the departures of Stefon Diggs and now Boutte, two key pieces of the team’s most recent successful campaign that ended with a Super Bowl appearance.

Per Anthony Rivardo of Fireside Giants, the injury of Houston’s Jayden Higgins opened the door for a trade. “The Texans should trade for Darius Slayton. They need help at WR. Maybe they could ship a DT or CB the Giants’ way. Just an idea.”

Rivardo might be on to something. Higgins was the Texans’ WR2, and Slayton is better than what the Texans are signing. According to Ari Meirov, the Texans have signed Sterling Shepard and Zay Jones. Slayton is a better option than those two.

The NY Giants could use a DT/CB

As Rivardo points out, the Texans could give a defensive piece back to the Giants. Given that the Giants need one, but also the Texans have a loaded, elite defense, which means that even a third string on the Texans could be very good and useful for the Giants.

The current Giants’ DTs are Darius Alexander and sixth-round rookie Bobby Jamison-Travis. Meanwhile they have cornerbacks Greg Newsome II and Paulson Adebo. They could really get some help in any of those roles.

The Texans have veteran, and injury prone WRs

Nico Collins is an absolute stud, and he manages to stay relatively healthy. Howeve, the rest of the Texans wideouts are incredibly shaky in terms of availability.

Jayden Higgins is out for the year, Tank Dell has had an absolute nightmare of a career in terms of wild injuries. Then, the veteran signings of Sterling Shepard and Zay Jones lower the team’s ceiling. The Texans should consider Slayton seriously.