(SportsRadio 610) - Already without rookie receiver Tank Dell, lost for the season after sustaining a broken fibula in the Texans' 22-17 Week 13 win over the Broncos, along with veteran tight end Dalton Schultz still rehabbing a hamstring injury that's forced him to miss the previous two games, the Texans took another major hit Sunday.
Nico Collins exited the game with a calf injury just one play after hauling in his first reception of the game, which took him over the one thousand-yard threshold for the first time in his young career.
"You lose him, things change," Ryans said. "How you call the plays, plays that you had designed for Nico – that changes because he isn't out there. So, you have to find a way to still continue to move the ball. Other people have to step up and make plays and when that opportunity is thrust upon them, are they stepping up and making those plays?"
Sunday, they didn't.
With Collins' status hanging in the balance this week ahead of a pivotal road tilt against the Tennessee Titans, offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and the Texans have their toughest challenge yet.
Preparation for who should be the starting quarterback on Sunday should've started on the plane ride back to Houston.
It shouldn't be CJ Stroud.
Currently in concussion protocol, Stroud sustained a blast from Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams on Sunday, which caused his head to slam into the hard, unforgiving turf at MetLife Stadium.
All but a formality at this point, the Texans, currently on the outside looking in at the playoff picture as the eighth-seed within the AFC, have not yet ruled Stroud out for the Titans game, should do so by midweek and prepare Davis Mills to make his first start of the season.
Even if Stroud was able to play, the situation would still be bleak given the dwindling bodies available to them offensively.
Collins, already missed the Texans' Week 10 victory over the Bengals this season due to a calf injury, is in danger of missing at least another if things don't progress this week. In the midst of a breakout season, Collins became just the fourth receiver in franchise history to eclipse 1,000 yards in a season on Sunday.
Without him in the receiver room, Dell lost for the season and Schultz's status still unknown, the Texans must rely upon unproven rookies Xavier Hutchinson and John Metchie III, along side veterans Noah Brown, Robert Woods and tight end Brevin Jordan.
After commanding 19 targets the first two games of the season, Woods has garnered just 20 targets in his last six games.
Let that sink in.
Brown has been ineffective and hobbled since two breakout games against the Buccaneers and Bengals and has seldom been a full participant in practice after missing two games thereafter with a hamstring injury.
The seldom used Hutchinson and Metchie have only been targeted a combined 28 times this season, will be asked to step up significantly down the stretch if in fact the Texans are forced to proceed as status quo.
"We've got a great group of guys to be able to flip this thing around and get to work and back on track next week," Woods said. "We've got Tennessee, playing pretty well. Just got to go out there and get a win."
Potentially, without Stroud, Collins, Schultz, never mind the key pieces that were banged up defensively in linebacker Blake Cashman (hamstring) and rookie edge rusher Will Anderson (ankle) who has already been a frequent guest on the injury report with a knee issue in recent weeks. But along with the fact that the Titans pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the NFL season Monday night in their 28-27 road win against the AFC East leading Dolphins, getting a win on the road next Sunday in Nashville just got that much more difficult.
Ok. Maybe it has a little bit to do with the Titans.
Head coach Mike Vrabel always seems to get the very best out of his team in big games. They're always a tough out.
Overcoming a 14-point deficit against the Dolphins with 4:34 remaining in the game Monday night was the latest example.
While the Texans have plenty more to shore up besides their injury woes, getting better performances out of the healthy bodies at key positions they actually do have available, in effort to keep their playoff hopes alive, is going to be their toughest challenge to date.
