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Honestly, if you're looking at the Houston Texans injury list right now and thinking it's just business as usual, you're missing the forest for the trees. We are sitting on Sunday, January 18, 2026, and the vibe in Houston is a weird mix of playoff adrenaline and genuine anxiety. The Texans are heading into Foxborough to face the New England Patriots in the Divisional Round, and the roster news coming out of NRG Stadium over the last 48 hours has been a total gut punch for fans who thought this was the year.
Most people see a names-on-a-page list and think, "Next man up." But the NFL doesn't work like that in the postseason. Not when the names being crossed off are the ones C.J. Stroud relies on to keep the chains moving.
The Nico Collins Situation Is Worse Than It Looks
Let’s get the big one out of the way. Nico Collins is OUT. He’s officially in concussion protocol, and he didn’t travel. This isn't just about losing a "WR1." It’s about losing the guy who hauled in 71 catches for over 1,100 yards this season. He’s the security blanket. He’s the guy who wins the 50/50 balls when the pocket is collapsing.
Collins took a nasty spill in the Wild Card win against the Steelers—fell right on his face trying to snag a ball—and he just hasn't cleared the hurdles. Because this is his second concussion of the 2025-2026 season, the medical staff is being incredibly cautious. You can't blame them. But man, for a team trying to win a road playoff game against a Mike Vrabel-coached defense? It’s brutal.
And it’s not just Nico. Justin Watson is also out with a concussion. That’s two veteran targets gone in one week. Basically, the Texans are going into the biggest game of Stroud's young career with five healthy receivers.
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Who is actually left to catch the ball?
- Christian Kirk: He’s going to have to be the hero. He’s been solid, but now he’s going to see the Patriots' best coverage all afternoon.
- Jayden Higgins: The rookie. He’s got flashes of brilliance, but the Divisional Round in the freezing cold is a hell of a place to ask a kid to be the primary option.
- Dalton Schultz: Expect him to see 12+ targets. Stroud is going to be looking for that tight end over the middle every single third down.
- Woody Marks: Coming out of the backfield, he might be the "X-factor" nobody is talking about.
The O-Line Shuffle: Is Trent Brown Playing?
The "Questionable" tag is the bane of every fan's existence. Trent Brown is currently listed as questionable with an ankle injury.
Here’s the thing: Brown missed the first two practices of the week. He finally showed up in a limited capacity on Friday. If you’ve followed his career, you know he’s a massive human being who needs his lower body to be 100% to move those mountain-sized defensive ends.
Playing against his former team in New England usually provides some extra motivation, but an ankle is an ankle. If he can’t go, or if he’s limited, C.J. Stroud is going to be running for his life. The Patriots defense thrives on making young QBs feel uncomfortable, and a backup tackle is an invitation to a blitz party.
The Defensive Stars Are (Mostly) Safe
If there is a silver lining on the Houston Texans injury list, it’s on the other side of the ball. DeMeco Ryans’ defense is relatively healthy, which is a miracle this late in January.
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Will Anderson Jr.—the newly minted First-Team All-Pro—is good to go. He had some chest and shoulder issues back in December, but he’s been a full participant. He’s the engine of this defense. Watching him and Danielle Hunter hunt together is basically the only reason Vegas hasn't made this a double-digit spread.
Derek Stingley Jr. is also fine despite an oblique scare earlier in the month. He’s going to need to be perfect because the offense might not put up 30 points today.
The Guys Who Didn't Make the Trip
It's easy to forget the guys who have been on the shelf for a while, but they matter for depth.
- Jawhar Jordan (Ankle) - Out.
- Ajani Carter (Hamstring) - Out.
- Denico Autry (Knee) - He’s been dealing with this for weeks. He's listed as having limited participation but usually finds a way to suit up.
What This Means for C.J. Stroud
Let's be real. Stroud finished the regular season with 19 touchdowns and only 8 picks. That's great. But in the Wild Card game, he fumbled five times. He lost two of them.
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When your top receiver is out and your protection is "questionable," a quarterback starts to "see ghosts." He might hold onto the ball a split second longer waiting for a rookie like Higgins to get open, and that’s when the fumbles happen.
The Texans are currently 3-point underdogs. That feels right. Without Nico Collins, this isn't the same team that dominated the Steelers 30-6. This is a team that has to win a "slugfest." They need the defense to create short fields. They need Ka’imi Fairbairn—who basically broke the NFL record for field goals this year—to be automatic.
Final Word on the Roster Outlook
The Houston Texans injury list tells a story of a team that is limping into a fight against a heavyweight. It’s not impossible, but it’s a massive mountain to climb.
If you're tracking this for fantasy or betting purposes, keep an eye on the inactives list about 90 minutes before kickoff. If Trent Brown is downgraded to "Out," the "Under" on Texans points becomes a very tempting play.
What you should do next:
If you're looking to stay ahead of the curve, make sure you have the official Texans app notifications turned on for the "Inactives" report. It usually drops right around 1:30 PM ET. Also, watch the warm-up footage of Tytus Howard and Trent Brown; how they move laterally in the pre-game will tell you everything you need to know about the Texans' chances of keeping Stroud upright today.
Check the waiver wire in your deep keeper leagues for Jayden Higgins, too—if he has a breakout game today with Nico out, his trade value is going to skyrocket by Monday morning.