Houston Texans WR 'Exactly What You Want', Says Coach DeMeco Ryans

The Houston Texans are pleased with wide receiver Nico Collins.

Jeremy Brener | Aug 16, 2024

Jul 29, 2024; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (12) during training camp at Houston Methodist Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports / Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

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Houston Texans

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins could have been entering this season as the final year of his contract.

However, his breakout 2023 campaign led him to a three-year, $75 million contract extension, even after the Texans traded for Stefon Diggs and drafted Tank Dell in the third round a year ago.

Collins, 25, had a career-high 1,297 yards and eight touchdowns in 2023, which eclipsed his totals from his first two seasons combined in both categories. Now that he has that confidence, Texans coach DeMeco Ryans has taken note.

“He is exactly what you want," Ryans said. "Nico [Collins] doesn’t change. He puts his head down and he works every day, it doesn’t matter what time of year it is. It could be the off season, it could be in season, he could be fighting through an injury, he could be a hundred percent healthy out there grinding. He is one of the more consistent players we have, which is why he is so fun to be around. He has got great energy, he is a great young man and a really good receiver. The way he goes about his business is as professional as you can be. He is fun to coach.”

It's no coincidence that Ryans' arrival as Houston's coach and Collins' breakout came in the same year. Ryans (along with quarterback C.J. Stroud) found a way to unlock Collins and make him one of the league's top receivers.

Given Ryans' comments, it doesn't appear like Collins' 2023 season was a fluke and he'll look to build on the momentum he's had in 2024.

Stick with TexansGameday for more coverage of the Houston Texans throughout the offseason.

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Published Aug 16, 2024

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.