ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Houston receiver Nico Collins is active for a “Monday Night Football” meeting with the Dallas Cowboys, ending a five-game absence because of a hamstring injury.
Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr, who entered the week tied for fifth in the NFL with 7 1/2 sacks, is out with an ankle injury. Cornerback Kamari Lassiter also is out with a concussion.
Collins led the NFL with 567 yards receiving when he went down, and still leads Houston in that category.
The return of Collins comes with quarterback C.J. Stroud in a bit of mini-slump and the AFC South-leading Texans on a 1-3 slide.
Collins was activated off injured reserve last week, but the Texans decided to hold him out for the 26-23 loss to Detroit.
The Cowboys put quarterback Dak Prescott on injured reserve following season-ending surgery for a torn hamstring. Cornerback Josh Butler was signed off the practice squad to take Prescott's spot on the roster.
Dallas receiver CeeDee Lamb was active after showing up on the injury report with a back issue late in the week. Cornerback Jourdan Lewis had already been ruled out with a neck injury.
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Injured Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins talks with teammates on the bench during the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Hard-throwing Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes capped a remarkable season by winning the National League Rookie of the Year Award on Monday, while Luis Gil of the New York Yankees edged Baltimore's Colton Cowser to take the AL honor.
It's the first time the rookie awards went to two pitchers since 2011, when Tampa Bay starter Jeremy Hellickson and Atlanta closer Craig Kimbrel won.
Skenes didn’t make his big league debut until May 11 but the right-hander was such an immediate sensation he was selected to start the All-Star Game for the NL on July 16. He beat out outfielders Jackson Merrill of the San Diego Padres and Jackson Chourio of the Milwaukee Brewers for the NL rookie prize.
The 22-year-old Skenes, the top pick in the 2023 amateur draft, finished 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA in 23 starts. He struck out 170 and walked 32 in 133 innings.
He received 23 first-place votes for 136 points while Merrill had seven firsts and 104 points. They were listed on all ballots. Chourio had 26 points.
Skenes also is a finalist for the NL Cy Young Award.
Gil, who moved into the Yankees' rotation after ace Gerrit Cole was injured in spring training, received 15 first-place votes for 106 points. Cowser got 13 firsts for 101 points, and Yankees catcher Austin Wells received 17 points.
The only closer election since 1980 was when Royals shortstop Angel Berroa beat Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui 88-84 in 2003.
Gil went 15-7 with a 3.50 ERA in 29 starts for the AL champions. The right-hander had 171 strikeouts in 151 2/3 innings.
Skenes became the second Pirates player to win the award after Jason Bay in 2004.
Because he finished among the top two in voting, Skenes will be credited with a full year of major league service instead of 142 days, under the collective bargaining agreement. If he isn’t sent back to the minor leagues, he would become eligible for free agency after the 2029 season.
Merrill, 21, came on strong during the second half, igniting a debate over whether an everyday player deserved the award more than a starting pitcher.
Merrill was converted from shortstop to center field during spring training, when the Padres had only two outfielders on their roster.
He was picked for the All-Star team and helped the Padres reach the playoffs, where they swept Atlanta in a Wild Card Series and then lost a Division Series to the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
Chourio was a 20-20 player at age 20.
This story removes an incorrect reference to Aaron Judge and Derek Jeter being the only previous Yankees to win AL Rookie of the Year.
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FILE - From left are baseball players, Baltimore Orioles' Colton Cowser, New York Yankees' Luis Gil and New York Yankees' Austin Wells, in 2024. (AP Photo/File)
FILE - From left are baseball players, Milwaukee Brewers' Jackson Chourio, San Diego Padres' Jackson Merrill and Pittsburgh Pirates' Paul Skenes, in 2024. (AP Photo/File)
FILE - Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes (30) pitches during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)
