Texans Rule Out Key Player After In-Game Injury Against Patriots

The Houston Texans’ offense will be even more short-handed for the remainder of Sunday’s AFC Divisional Round game against the New England Patriots.

Houston entered the second-round clash without star wide receiver Nico Collins, who suffered a concussion in a Wild Card Round win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. C.J. Stroud won’t have his next leading pass-catcher for most of the matchup at Gillette Stadium.

Dalton Schultz exited Sunday’s game in the first quarter. Before halftime, the Texans ruled him out with a calf injury.

Schultz led the Texans with 82 catches during the regular season and tallied their second-most receiving yards (777) behind Collins. The tight end settled for just 12 yards in the opening round, but he garnered 47 yards against the Patriots before leaving.

C.J. Stroud found Schultz in the flat on a third-and-8, and the 29-year-old turned a short pass into a 42-yard gain. The Texans finished the drive by kicking a field goal to get on the board.

Schultz also wasn’t Houston’s only significant offensive playmaker to get hurt. Starting running back Woody Marks sustained a shoulder injury but returned to the game.

The Texans now must mount a second-half comeback without Collins and Schultz. They’re down 21-10 at halftime after Stroud threw four interceptions, one of which Marcus Jones returned for a 26-yard touchdown.

Fans can watch the rest of New England’s AFC Divisional Round game on ABC or ESPN.