The Texans placed Nico Collins, the NFL receiver yards leader, on IR

The Houston Texans have placed wide receiver Nico Collins on injured reserve and have him sidelined for at least the next four games.

Collins, who leads the NFL with 567 receiving yards this season, suffered a hamstring injury in the first quarter of Houston's 23-20 win over the Buffalo Bills in Week 5. The injury occurred when quarterback CJ Stroud launched a deep pass to Collins for a 67-yard touchdown to give the Texans a 14-3 lead.

However, Collins limped to the sideline after the score, then eventually went to the locker room and did not return.

On Monday, coach DeMeco Ryans said Collins is getting injured “week to week” and that replacing his performance will require a team effort.

“Nico was the best receiver in the NFL this year. So do you replace him? No, everyone just performs and whatever role you're supposed to do, just perform and play your role the right way,” Ryans said. “Nobody has to be Nico. There is a Nico, he did great. Now, whoever is next, when your number is called, make the plays you’re supposed to make.”

It was difficult to replace Collins in Week 5, as the Texans only scored nine points after he left. This year, even with Collins, their offense was not a strong scoring unit as they were 19th in scoring offense (20 points per game).

Stroud is third in passing yards (1,385), but has been two different quarterbacks with Collins on and off the field.

When attacking Collins, Stroud had a passer rating of 133 and the duo led the NFL in expected points added (34.6). Especially when Collins is on the field, Stroud has a passer rating of 107 even when not targeted, while completing 70% of his throws for a 7:2 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

But when Collins isn't on the field, Stroud has zero touchdowns, one interception, completes 64% of his passes and has a 72 passer rating.

The Texans' offense has already been without Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon, who has missed the last three weeks with an ankle injury, and it is uncertain whether Mixon will return in Week 6 against the New England Patriots.

In Collins' absence, wideout Stefon Diggs will step into the No. 1 receiver role. Diggs is seventh in receptions (31) and finished with a game-high 82 yards in the Texans' Week 5 win. Tank Dell's role will increase after he had a quiet start to the season as he averaged 34 yards per game compared to last season when he averaged 64 yards per game as a rookie.

The Texans' next four games are against the New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts and New York Jets. Only the Jets (136 yards per game) have a pass defense that ranks in the top five in yards allowed per game. The Colts (262.2) are 29th, the Packers are 23rd (231.6) and the Patriots are 25th (239.0).