The Texans were given a pair of tough tasks to open the season as they prepare to host the Bengals a week after just getting edged out by the Bills in Week 1. For Houston’s second tough game, though, the team will be short three starters. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, the Texans have ruled out wide receiver Nico Collins, right guard Ed Ingram, and defensive end Jadeveon Clowney for Week 2.
Coming off his third straight 1,000-yard receiving season, Collins got off to a hot start in 2026, catching seven of 10 targets for 75 yards and a touchdown against Buffalo. Collins suffered a hamstring injury in practice yesterday, and after he sat out of Thursday and Friday’s practices, Houston made the decision to hold him out on Sunday, as well. Already short last year’s second-round pick Jayden Higgins, who is out for the year with a torn ACL, and Tank Dell, the Texans will need to rely on Xavier Hutchinson, Jaylin Noel, Jared Wayne, and trade acquisition Kayshon Boutte against Cincinnati.
Ingram, a full-time starter over the last two years in Houston, was limited in practice after he suffered a groin injury on Thursday, and he didn’t practice at all today. Per Wilson, the injury threatens to hold him out for at least two weeks. With Ingram out, the Texans will turn to three-time Pro Bowler Wyatt Teller. The longtime Browns guard started 94 games over seven years in Cleveland after beginning his career in Buffalo. It looks like he’ll get a two-week run on the first-team offense for Houston while Ingram recovers.
Lastly, Clowney is reportedly dealing with some knee tightness, according to Wilson. The team’s former No. 1 overall pick hasn’t been considered a participant in practice this week, but he’s been working on the side with the team’s trainers. The 33-year-old veteran is not as starter in Houston, with Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter working on the first-team defense, and with three players at the position on injured reserve, the defensive end depth consists only of Dominique Robinson and Sabastian Harsh.
In addition to a difficult schedule to start the season, the Texans are fighting the injury bug, as well. At the moment, they seem to have adequate depth to continue competing, but that depth is being seriously tested early. They’ll hope the absences stay limited to a couple weeks and that they can stay afloat long enough for reinforcements to arrive.