Stephen A. Smith and Jeff Saturday clash over latest concerns facing Houston Texans
HEATED DEBATE!
09 October 2024
HEATED DEBATE!
The Houston Texans will reportedly be without superstar receiver Nico Collins for at least the next four games due to a hamstring injury.
Over the next four weeks, the Texans will face the Patriots, Packers, Colts, and Jets.
Wednesday on First Take, Stephen A. Smith downplayed the significance of the injury, saying this will give CJ Stroud the opportunity to get Stefon Diggs more involved in the offense during Collins' absence.
Smith also made the point that the AFC South is a weak division, and the team should go at least 2-2 over the next four games based on the schedule.
However, ESPN analyst Jeff Saturday doesn't see things the same way. He believes this injury is a big deal for Houston, because he views CJ Stroud and Nico Collins as the best QB/WR duo in the NFL. Something that can't be easily replaced, even with Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell ready to step up in Collins' place.
Who's right?
Be sure to watch the video above for the full heated debate!
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.
The home run by Peraza.
It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.
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.