Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins has been diagnosed with a concussion and will not return to Monday's playoff contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He exited after hitting his head on the turf on an incomplete pass during the third quarter. Collins was initially listed as questionable while being evaluated, but the team eventually downgraded him to out. He finishes the Wild Card game with seven targets, three catches, and 21 receiving yards. In addition to Collins, fellow wide receiver Justin Watson (concussion), who primarily plays on special teams, has also been ruled out. The Texans will play the final few minutes with Jaylin Noel, Jayden Higgins, Dalton Schultz, and Christian Kirk operating as C.J. Stroud's top targets. Collins is officially in concussion protocol and will have just six days to get healthy before the Texans' Divisional Round game against the Patriots, assuming Houston holds on to defeat Pittsburgh.

Houston Texans wide receiver Justin Watson has been diagnosed with a concussion and will not return to Monday's playoff contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He initially exited during the third quarter and was initially listed as questionable while being evaluated. However, the team later downgraded him to out. Watson, who returned from injured reserve prior to Week 18, had not been targeted before his departure on Monday night. He primarily operates on special teams and does not have much of a role within the Texans' offense. With that being said, his absence, coupled with the departure of Nico Collins (concussion), will test Houston's wide receiver depth going forward. Watson faces an uphill battle to clear the NFL's five-stage concussion protocol over the next six days before the Texans' Divisional Round clash with the New England Patriots.

Houston Texans wide receiver Justin Watson (head) exited during the third quarter of Monday's playoff contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He is being evaluated for a concussion and is officially listed as questionable to return. Watson returned from a calf injury prior to Week 18, but he didn't log a target in the regular season finale. Similarly, he hadn't been targeted before exiting the Wild Card game on Monday night. The 29-year-old is buried on the depth chart at wide receiver, and most of his contributions come on special teams. It's worth noting that Houston suddenly finds itself shorthanded at the position after Nico Collins (head) was taken to the locker room to be evaluated for a concussion, too.

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (head) exited after hitting his head on the turf on an incomplete pass during the third quarter of Monday's playoff contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was quickly listed as questionable, and medical personnel carted Collins to the locker room for a concussion evaluation. At the time of his departure, the 26-year-old receiver had caught three of seven targets for 21 yards. The Texans are leaving the door open for him to return, but he'll first have to clear the NFL's concussion check. In the meantime, Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel, and Christian Kirk should command more targets from C.J. Stroud. If Collins is diagnosed with a concussion, he'd miss the remainder of today's game and would also be at risk of missing the Divisional Round in New England, should Houston advance.