Team news: Houston Texans

The Texans ruled out WRs Nico Collins and Christian Kirk for Sunday vs. San Francisco.

Related Players: Jaylin Noel, Jayden Higgins, Xavier Hutchinson, Braxton Berrios

It looks like Houston is going to have to feature their two rookie WRs, whether they like it or not. We don't have to like it in fantasy, though, and there are better WR rooms to attack in Week 8.

Texans WR Nico Collins (concussion protocol) & WR Christian Kirk (hamstring) are both NOT practicing.

Related Players: Jaylin Noel, Jayden Higgins, Xavier Hutchinson, Braxton Berrios

Nobody outside of the Texans' opponents wants to watch this offense without Nico Collins on the field, so let's hope he can log some practice time before the weekend. If both Collins and Kirk end up missing, either of the rookies (Noel/Higgins) would make for fine desperation WR4s.

Houston Texans wideout Nico Collins suffered a concussion during a 27-19 loss Monday to the Seattle Seahawks, according to coach DeMeco Ryans.

"We'll evaluate him as the week goes on," Ryans said.

Related players: Christian Kirk, Jayden Higgins, Xavier Hutchinson, Jaylin Noel

The trend has been for players to miss at least a week after a concussion, so Collins owners will want to be sure to follow his progress. The Texans host the 49ers in an earlier Sunday game and considering there are also six teams on byes this week, now is the time for a plan just in case Collins is out for Week 8.

After previously being non-committal on Joe Mixon's return from injury this season, Texans general manager Nick Caserio said Tuesday his running back — while progressing — needs another month before a decision is made on his availability while on the Reserve/Non-Football Injury list.

"He's making progress, so we won't put a particular timetable on it, so I think over the next few three or four weeks, we'll probably get a little more information here, kind of see how he's progressing," Caserio said. "Once we kind of get to that period, probably have a better sense of which way it's going to go for the duration of the year."

Related players: Woody Marks, Nick Chubb, Dare Ogunbowale

Sidelined throughout spring activities, training camp and the preseason, a prolonged foot injury jeopardized Mixon's return to the lineup in 2025, the story went on to say. It at least sounds like the team expects Mixon to make a return this year, but when that will be is anyone's guess at this point. As long as you have an IR spot, it's OK to keep Mixon on your roster, but even IR spots can be valuable as the season goes on. For now, Marks and Chubb look like they will carry the load in the backfield for Houston.

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans specifically indicated that Joe Mixon is not ready to return at this time. Per sources, it will be much longer, if at all, for Mixon to get back on the field this season

Related Players: Nick Chubb, Woody Marks, Dare Ogunbowale

Even in a blowout, 26-0 win in Week 4, Ogunbowale recorded exactly one snap, so with Joe Mixon seemingly out for most of, if not all, of the season, it's down to Chubb and Marks. After Marks' breakout game, the rookie could very well start to take over a majority of the snaps going forward, which makes him a priority pick-up in every league size.

Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr. (wrist) is off the injury report and good to go Sunday.

Meanwhile, Texans WRs Christian Kirk (hamstring) and Braxton Berrios (hamstring) are both off the injury report and set to make their season debuts.

Related Players: Travis Hunter, Dyami Brown, Nico Collins, Xavier Hutchinson, Jayden Higgins

Brian Thomas should continue to be slotted in as a fringe WR1/2 play, with Christian Kirk is much further down the list as a WR4/5 as the ball continues to be spread around behind Collins.

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans on Christian Kirk and Braxton Berrios: 'Progressing very well, expect to get those guys back this week'

The return of Kirk could help the Texans offense, which hasn't done a whole lot over the first two weeks of the season. Before the injury, those who follow the team said Kirk was the team's clear WR2 in camp, so it's possible he could slide right back into that role starting in Week 3.

Texans second practice of Week 1.

I do not see Christian Kirk or Braxton Berrios.

Cam Robinson is back.

Related Players: Nico Collins, Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel

It's not looking great for Kirk to suit up for Week 1. We'll see how much Noel rotates into the slot, but it's probably best to keep our exposure to only Nico Collins until we see how the target share spreads out behind him. Collins is in easy WR1 consideration.

Texans general manager Nick Caserio was noncommittal about whether Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon will play in 2025.

Caserio was asked Wednesday morning if Mixon would suit up at all this season but did not provide any clarity on the status of the team's leading rusher from last season.

"We'll see. We'll take it one day at a time," Caserio said. "We'll evaluate those players after four weeks and see where they are in their progression and then make a determination."

Related Players: Nick Chubb, Dameon Pierce, Woody Marks, Dare Ogunbowale

Mixon has been undraftable for a while now, but even stashing him away seems to be a hard pill to swallow at this point. Chubb will hold the RB1 title for now, but he looked pretty rough upon returning from a major injury last season. Woody Marks is one of the best last-round picks you can make at the moment.

Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans declined to give an update on running back Joe Mixon’s status at a press conference on Monday, but the Texans provided one a little later in the day.

Mixon was placed on the non-football injury list at the start of training camp and the team announced that he will be placed on the reserve version of the list at the cut to 53 players on Tuesday. The move will make Mixon unable to play in the first four games of the season.

Related players: Nick Chubb, Dameon Pierce, Woody Marks, Dare Ogunbowale

Mixon injured his foot while he was away from the team ahead of camp, the story went on to say. Chubb is in line to be the starting running back in Week 1, but he didn't look great last year and was likely still recovering from his knee injury. However a hot start could make it tough for Mixon to get his job back, the story speculated. Those who follow the team feel Chubb, Pierce, Marks and Ogunbowale will all make the team if Mixon has to miss time.