How CJ Stroud’s greatness has created exciting Texans challenges, opportunities at WR

PRESENTED BY COORS LIGHT

How CJ Stroud’s greatness has created exciting Texans challenges, opportunities at WR
Nico Collins is having a career year. Compostie Getty Image.

The Houston Texans needed a huge performance from Nico Collins on Sunday after Tank Dell went down with a season-ending injury, and boy did they get it.

Collins finished the day with just under 200 receiving yards, and helped the team secure a huge victory, pushing the team's record to 7-5.

There's been a lot of discussion about whether Collins is a true No. 1 receiver in the NFL, and his numbers indicate he is. Nico is 9th in receiving yards in the NFL (991) with 6 TDs in 11 games.

Certainly, health will be a big factor in determining just how high his upside is. He only played in 10 games in 2022, and this is his first season with over 500 yards.

Outside of health, how Collins responds to all the extra attention he is about to receive due to the loss of Tank Dell, will tell us a lot about if he can perform like a true No. 1 receiver.

2024 will be the final year of Nico's contract and he'll be looking for a big pay day if he can continue this production. Which makes us wonder, should the Texans pay him like a Top 10 receiver if he continues to put up these numbers?

Plus, the big concern with Tank Dell has always been his size, and if he can hold up in the NFL. Now that he's injured for the second time, and out for the season with his latest injury, should the Texans consider adding another receiver in the draft or free agency?

Don't miss the video below as we break it all down!

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Presented by Coors Light.

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The Angels beat the Astros, 3-0. Composite Getty Image.

José Soriano and two relievers combined for a two-hitter and Oswald Peraza hit his first home run since a trade from the Yankees to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.

Soriano (10-9) allowed one hit and struck out eight in seven innings. Luis García allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save.

There were two outs in the fifth when Peraza connected off Hunter Brown (10-7) into the bullpen in right-center field to put the Angels up 1-0. His homer comes after his two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday helped Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory that snapped a three-game skid.

Yoan Moncada walked to start the eighth and scored on Mike Trout’s double that bounced off the wall in center field to make it 2-0. Taylor Ward walked before Luis Rengifo reached and Trout scored on an error by Lance McCullers Jr. when the pitcher overthrew first base.

Yordan Alvarez singled with no outs in the first and Soriano walked a batter in the second and sixth innings. The Astros didn’t get another hit until Ramón Urías doubled with one out in the eighth inning. Los Angeles outfielder Taylor Ward was injured trying to make a catch on that hit when he crashed face-first into the metal scoreboard in left field.

He was carted off the field holding a towel to the right side of his face. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance where interim manager Ray Montgomery said he would receive stitches to close the cut and be evaluated.

Brown allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings. McCullers Jr. allowed three hits and two runs in his first relief appearance since 2018.

Key moment

The home run by Peraza.

Key stat

It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.

Up next

LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-9, 3.68 ERA) will start for Los Angeles in the series finale Monday against RHP Luis Garcia, who’ll make his return after sitting out since May 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery.

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