Christian Gonzalez in, Nico Collins out for Texans-Patriots

The Patriots acquired some excellent news of their remaining harm report forward of Sunday’s divisional spherical sport towards the Texans.

Star cornerback Christian Gonzalez has cleared concussion protocol and can play in Sunday’s sport. Gonzalez was a full participant for the second straight apply on Friday, with Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel saying earlier within the day that he can be questionable to play on Sunday.

Edge rusher Harold Landry (knee) and Terrell Jennings (concussion protocol) are the one two Patriots gamers listed as questionable for Sunday’s sport, and nobody has been dominated out.

Arguably the largest piece of harm information for Sunday’s sport, although, is that Texans star broad receiver Nico Collins has been dominated out as he stays in concussion protocol. Collins departed the Texans’ wild-card win towards the Steelers within the second half as a result of harm.

Collins seemingly would’ve been Gonzalez’s major project if he have been wholesome. Collins has emerged as one of many NFL’s finest perimeter broad receivers over the previous few years, logging 71 receptions for 1,117 yards and 6 touchdowns in 15 regular-season video games.

Collins missed the 2024 matchup towards the Patriots because of harm. Nonetheless, he’s additionally put up robust numbers within the playoffs. He had 23 receptions for 367 yards and two touchdowns in 4 playoff video games previous to Monday’s win over the Steelers.

With Collins out, the Texans don’t have a transparent No. 1 broad receiver. Rookie Jayden Higgins was Houston’s solely different broad receiver to have greater than 40 receptions this season, however he logged 41 receptions.

Xavier Hutchinson, Christian Kirk, and Jaylin Noel have every contributed to the passing, although, in current weeks. Hutchinson had 84 receiving yards within the Texans’ regular-season finale win over the Colts, whereas Kirk had 144 yards and a landing in final week’s win over the Steelers. Noel, a third-round rookie, had 54 receiving yards and a landing within the Texans’ Week 17 win over the Chargers.

Depth broad receiver Justin Watson is the one different Texans participant who’s been dominated out for Sunday’s sport. Former Patriots offensive deal with Trent Brown, in the meantime, is the Texans’ solely participant dominated as questionable to play within the divisional spherical matchup.

Brown has been Houston’s major proper deal with since Week 10. Nonetheless, he missed the Texans’ remaining two regular-season video games because of ankle and knee accidents earlier than returning for Monday’s playoff win over the Steelers.

As for the Patriots, Landry returned to motion final week after lacking the crew’s remaining two regular-season video games. Landry didn’t apply on Friday after being restricted within the first two practices this week. He logged a team-high 8.5 sacks within the common season.

Defensive lineman Khyiris Tonga will return for Sunday’s sport after lacking the Patriots’ final three video games because of a foot harm. The fifth-year veteran has been a little bit of a shock contributor for the Patriots this 12 months, logging 24 complete tackles and enjoying 14 snaps as a fullback on offense.

“He’s nice to have in apply, however what issues is what it’s going to be on Sunday at 3:00 p.m.,” Vrabel mentioned of Tonga’s return on Friday. “I might say that hopefully he may decide up the place he left off in his manufacturing, what he was capable of do and the way he helped us inside there as an inside, rotational participant with Milt [Milton Williams] and Christian [Barmore], enjoying all these guys.”