There is no doubt that the Houston Texans have lofty expectations heading into the fall of 2024 coming off an impressive season under the first year's of star quarterback C.J. Stroud and head coach DeMeco Ryans. It was also a career season for wide receiver Nico Collins who Stroud made a comparison about his teammate to Andre Johnson, Houston's best receiver in franchise history.
As mentioned before, Collins easily had the best season in his young career as he caught 80 passes for 1,297 yards to go along with eight touchdowns. Johnson spent 12 seasons with the Texans and put up stellar numbers as he leads all-time in franchise history in touchdowns (64), receving yards (13,597), and receptions (1,012), leading him to be inducted in the 2024 Hall of Fame. This is also the player that Stroud sees a lot in Collins according to NFL.com.
“[Collins is] a generational talent. He's like our age's Andre Johnson, in my opinion,” Stroud said. “Just how fast he is, how he gets in and out of his braces, releases, how strong he is. I think last year was just a preview of what's to come for him.”
Stroud talks having “five No.1” pass catchers on Texans including Collins
For the tremendous season he had, Collins was awarded a contract extension for three years worth $72.5 million as he looks to put up the same numbers in an even more packed receiver room along with an ascending Tank Dell and newly acquired Stefon Diggs. For a player like Stroud, he now has a bevy of options to throw to in his second season, saying that it is “cool to have.”
“I think we have like five No. 1s, so that's kind of cool to have. I've had that before in college and now I have it again. It's going to be fun,” Stroud said. “Nico, he loves to see everybody else eat, too. His love for his brothers hasn't changed. It's a special feeling to see somebody who deserves to get paid and get what they deserve. I'm just really proud of him.”
While some may think that it is too many mouths to feed, the Texans are confident that they will be able to manage it as for Ryans, the goal will be to overwhelm any defense that stands in their way.
“We want to put defenses in binds, and I think with those three guys it allows us to do that because they are so different, and they can all do different things,” Ryans said. “But at the end of the day, they are all explosive finishers with the football, and that is what makes those guys great players. They can win on third down, and they can finish and get in the end zone, and that's what we look for at all skill positions on offense.”
Houston's plethora of offense “takes all limits off”
The same sentiment was echoed by the Texans talented offensive coordinator in Bobby Slowik that talked about the new acquisitions for the franchise in Diggs and running back Joe Mixon.
“It is really that, it takes all limits off whatever you need to do to win a game,” Slowik said about the improved Texans' offense. “If we feel like we need to throw the ball deep to win a game, we can do that, if we have to throw it short to win a game, we can do that, if we have to run the ball 40 times to win a game, we feel like we can do that. It just enables and empowers us to do whatever is necessary that given week to beat the opponent in front of us, and everybody on our offense, and really on our team right now, is all in on that and that is what is making this really fun.”
Houston is looking to improve even after a season that defied some expectations where they went 10-7, won the AFC South, and reached as far as the divisional round of the playoffs before being eliminated by the Baltimore Ravens. The Texans will start their upcoming season on the road against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Sept. 8.
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