NFL Injury Report – Texans WR Nico Collins Returns to Locker Room After Calf Injury Heartbreak

The Week 14 matchup between the Texans and Jets is underway, and the MetLife turf has already claimed its first victim. The Texans took the hit on their squad even before they did at the scoreline, as WR Nico Collins went out with a calf injury at the end of the first quarter.

The Texans want to continue their win streak and keep the playoff picture as confusing as possible. Meanwhile, the hopeless Jets are trying to turn back from the Falcons‘ defeat. But the early injury has complicated things for the away side, who face a colossal comeback challenge in the fourth quarter.

WR Nico Collins out with a calf injury, questionable to return

Collins went down after a late challenge by Sauce Gardner following a catch and immediately felt something was wrong. Though he continued as a pass blocker for the next few minutes, he went to the locker room, making his return questionable. The team has also taken a hit on the scoreline, being down 21-6 in the last stretch.

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Things could get further complicated for the WR, as the injury is likely a re-aggravation of his mid-November injury that kept him out for one game. If things get serious, the Texans will miss his presence in the current game and the next one. He had one catch for 13 yards before leaving the game. But the bizarre nature of the injury raises the question: is the MetLife turf back in action again?

Nico Collins: The latest victim of MetLife?

Collins went down after a challenge and got back up, momentarily limping. But the challenge from Gardner didn’t look harsh enough to stress his calves unnecessarily. Additionally, CB Tavierre Thomas and LB Blake Cashman are also out with hamstring injuries, with the impact being considerably soft in both cases. So, does the infamous MetLife turf also have a role to play here?

The ground has claimed many high-profile victims in recent years, such as Nick Bosa and arguably Aaron Rodgers. The first ended the season for the defensive end, whereas Rodgers is looking to defy the rules thanks to his exceptional conditioning. The NFL players have constantly made it clear that there’s something wrong with the MetLife turf, which is worse than that of 13 NFL stadiums that use synthetic grass.

Two weeks ago, the turf found Aaron Rodgers’ fateful successor in Jaelan Phillips, whose season ended with an Achilles surgery following a test on the same pitch. Is Nico Collins heading in a similar direction after consecutive blows on his calf? The Texans will be hoping not as they count on CJ Stroud to pitch a 4th quarter comeback against the Jets and the turf.

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