JUST IN: 2023’s Most Improved Texans Player: Nico Collins?

The Houston Texans exceeded expectations in the 2023 season, showcasing notable individual performances, with several players achieving career highs. Defensive end Jonathan Greenard recorded a career-best 12.5 sacks, and cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. notched five interceptions in his second season. However, wide receiver Nico Collins stood out as the player with the most significant improvement, making significant strides in his performance.

Benefiting from improved health and enhanced quarterback play, courtesy of rookie C.J. Stroud, Collins experienced a breakout season. He concluded the campaign with a career-high 1,297 receiving yards on 80 catches, accompanied by eight touchdowns. Collins’ remarkable progress in his third season earned him recognition as the Texans’ most improved player of the season, a title bestowed upon him by Pro Football Focus.

In their assessment, Pro Football Focus highlighted Collins’ full realization of his potential in his inaugural season with quarterback C.J. Stroud. Despite grappling with a calf injury during the latter part of the season, Collins maintained a high level of performance, concluding the regular season with an impressive 91.0 grade. When factoring in his postseason contributions, he achieved an overall grade of 91.4, ranking him third among wide receivers in the 2023 season according to Pro Football Focus.

Collins, the premier wide receiver for the Texans in Houston’s passing strategy, had five games in which he gained 100 yards or more. In the Texans’ Week 18 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, he recorded his best-ever performance with nine receptions for 195 yards and a score. Collins joined Andre Johnson, DeAndre Hopkins, and Brandon Cooks as the only players in franchise history to finish the 2023 season with more than 1,000 receiving yards.