Who will step up for the Texans amid piling injuries?

No Collins or Mixon means someone must pick up the slack.

The Houston Texans entered the 2024 season with high hopes and after beating the Buffalo Bills last weekend, continue to manage expectations at 4-1. That record is good enough for the #2 seed in the AFC if the playoffs started today.

The Texans also entered the season with all-pro RB1 Joe Mixon and rising star WR1 Nico Collins. Mixon went down in week 2 with a nagging injury and this week Collins was placed on short-term injured reserve.

Meanwhile, second year phenom C.J. Stroud is doing his best to drag his name all over the NFL record books, with or without his world-class teammates.

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Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud ranks third in the NFL with 1,385 passing yards this season and has totaled at least 325 passing yards in each of the past two weeks. In 20 career games, Stroud has recorded at least 325 passing yards in six games and has totaled at least 300 passing yards in eight games.

With 325 passing yards at New England on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS), Stroud will become the second player in NFL history to record at least 325 passing yards in seven-or-more games in his first two seasons, joining Justin Herbert (11 games).

With 300 passing yards, Stroud will tie Jeff Garcia (nine games), Andrew Luck (nine) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Kurt Warner (nine) for the fifth-most 300-yard games by a player in his first two seasons in NFL history.

But throwing for 325+ yards is rough without a solid running game. And rougher still without the receiver Stroud has tossed the lion’s share of his passes to in his short career.

As of Monday, Mixon was still mentioned in the “week to week” category by head coach DeMeco Ryans. Barring some sort of miracle, it’s likely the bruising tailback will watch this weekend’s battle with the New England Patriots from some where other than the field.

The Texans currently sit with just under $6 million in cap space, according to Texans Cap. Definitely enough to wheel and deal for another running back. But, with Mixon coming back soon (we hope) signing another starting caliber tailback seems nonsensical.

That means it’s once again up to the combination of Cam Akers & Dare Ogunbowale to figure it out.

But, newsflash, Dameon Pierce is expected back this weekend and per Stroud, looks good to go. Granted, this isn’t exactly a highly passionate endorsement:

Could we finally see the rookie we knew and loved in the veteran on the field? If Pierce was ever going to reestablish himself, this weekend is his best shot.

The Patriots are 24th in total defense, surrendering an average of 357 total yards per game. Their passing D is 25th, watching 239 air yards per game fly over their heads. In the run D they’re up to 13th in the league with 118 ground yards given up per game, but that’s likely due to opposing QBs carving them up through the air.

Make us proud Pierce!

Speaking of air yards, replacing Nico Collins won’t be easy, however the Texans have one of the deepest wide receiver depth charts going. Stefon Diggs, Tank Dell, Xavier Hutchinson, Robert Woods and John Metchie III have all contributed in various ways this season – some more than others.

While Collins has the lead in receiving yards so far with 567, here’s the rest:

Diggs – 315

Dell – 137

Hutch – 34

Woods – 28

Metchie – 7

Additionally, running back Ogunbowale has 155, tight end Dalton Shultz has 116 and tight end Cade Stover has 51.

For Stroud to drop over 325 yards worth of balls into catchers’ hands, several of the names listed there will need to step up.

For those who have followed my ramblings this year, it won’t surprise you to know I’m rooting for Hutch. If Diggs can take over the WR1 spot and Dell and Hutch can fill the WR2/3 role, the Patriots pass defense is going to have a long day.

Either way, Stroud has completed passes to 14 Texans so far this season. Without Mixon or Collins, that still gives him 12 viable targets.

Time for one of the 12 to become The One.

#InDeMecoWeTrust