Tag: Collins

Oct 31, 2021; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle La'el Collins (71) indicates he is an eligible receiver entering the game in the third quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports

NFL transaction roundup: OT La’el Collins signs with Bengals

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Offensive tackle La’el Collins signed a three-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

The Bengals did not disclose the financial terms of the deal for Collins, who was released by the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday.

In a bid to protect star quarterback Joe Burrow, the Bengals have bolstered their offensive line with the additions of Alex Cappa, Ted Karras and Collins in free agency.

Collins, 28, has played guard and tackle for the Cowboys and appeared in 12 games last season. He missed the 2020 season with a hip injury that required surgery but started all but one game the previous three seasons.

He served a five-game suspension in 2021 for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.

–Free-agent tight end Gerald Everett agreed to a two-year, $12 million deal with the Los Angeles Chargers, according to multiple reports on Sunday.

Everett, 27, established career highs of 48 receptions, 478 yards and four touchdowns last season for the Seattle Seahawks.

He could become more of a passing target with the Chargers, who have young star Justin Herbert as quarterback.

Everett spent his first four seasons with the Los Angeles Rams. He has 175 receptions for 1,867 yards and 12 touchdowns in 76 career games (23 starts) over his five NFL campaigns.

Everett was a second-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft out of South Alabama.

–Seattle Seahawks running back Rashaad Penny is returning to the team on a one-year deal that is worth at least $5.75 million, according to reports.

The pay could increase to $6.5 million depending on Penny’s performance.

Penny, 26, was a first-round selection (27th overall) in 2018 out of San Diego State but has battled injuries while not living up to expectations. But he finished the 2021 season on a roll by rushing for at least 135 yards in four of the last five games.

The explosive finish help Penny rush for a career-high 749 yards while playing in just 10 games. He had a spectacular 6.3-yard rushing average and scored six touchdowns.

Penny tore the ACL in his left knee on Dec. 8, 2019 against the Los Angeles Rams and missed more than a year before returning to play in the final three games in 2020.

He injured a calf in the 2021 season opener against the Indianapolis Colts and missed the next five games. He finally hit his stride in December.

Overall, Penny has rushed for 1,572 yards and 11 touchdowns and caught 23 passes for 206 yards with one touchdown in 37 games (six starts).

–The Carolina Panthers said they agreed to a one-year deal with linebacker Cory Littleton. The deal is worth $2.6 million, according to reports.

Littleton, 28, spent the past two seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders after playing his first four campaigns with the Los Angeles Rams.

Littleton was a Pro Bowl selection in 2018 when he had 125 tackles and registered career highs of four sacks and three interceptions for the Rams. He had a career-high 134 stops in 2019.

Overall, Littleton has 495 tackles, nine sacks and six interceptions (returning one for a touchdown) in 95 games (64 starts). He was an undrafted free agent out of Washington.

–The Chicago Bears confirmed the signing of former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Byron Pringle.

It is a one-year deal worth $6 million and includes $4 million guaranteed, according to Spotrac.

Pringle, 28, caught 42 passes for 568 yards and five touchdowns in 17 games (five starts) last season.

Undrafted out of Kansas State in 2018, he played in 46 games (eight starts) with the Chiefs from 2019-21, registering 67 receptions for 898 yards and seven scores. He also averaged 26.6 yards on 37 kickoff returns with one touchdown.

–Field Level Media

Jan 8, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Ryan Kerrigan (90) rushes the quarterback as Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle La'el Collins (71) blocks the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Cowboys shop OT La’el Collins, angling for LB Bobby Wagner

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Right tackle La’el Collins is generating strong interest on the trade market as the Dallas Cowboys weigh options to get below the 2022 salary cap, according to reports.

Collins has three years and $30 million remaining on his contract and moving him would free up enough salary cap space for the Cowboys to retain wide receiver Amari Cooper and pursue free-agent linebacker Bobby Wagner, according to reports.

Collins, 28, played guard and tackle for the Cowboys and played in 12 games last season. He missed the 2020 season with a hip injury that required surgery, but started all but one game the previous three seasons.

NFL Network reported Collins, undrafted out of LSU in 2015, has been coveted in trade discussions the Cowboys opened around multiple players.

ESPN reported last week that Cooper was “likely to be released” but multiple reports imply Cooper, owed $20 million on March 20, could stick around.

Wagner was released by the Seattle Seahawks, where he played for current Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. But Wagner reportedly has a robust market developing and several of his suitors will have more cash to offer than Dallas.

The Cowboys restructured multiple contracts this week, including $22 million worth of accounting gymnastics on the long-term deals for Dak Prescott and Zack Martin. But Dallas remains over the salary cap, NFL Network reported.

–Field Level Media

Nov 21, 2021; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) runs out of bounds following a reception against the Arizona Cardinals during the fourth quarter at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Seahawks WR Tyler Lockett, RB Alex Collins enter COVID protocols

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Seattle is no longer the only NFL team without a player on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

The Seahawks assigned wide receiver Tyler Lockett and running back Alex Collins in the NFL’s health and safety protocol on Thursday as the league experiences a record-breaking number of positive virus cases.

Both players are able to return for Week 15 on Sunday if they produce two negative tests in a span of 24 hours. The Seahawks said in September the team is 100 percent vaccinated.

Head coach Pete Carroll applauded his team Wednesday but noted the roster was just “hanging on” as a surge in positives thins rosters around the NFL.

Commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday there is no plan to postpone or reschedule games.

The Seahawks are on the road to play the Los Angeles Rams, one of the teams currently hardest hit by COVID.

Lockett is the Seahawks’ leading receiver with 1,023 yards — 8th in the NFL — and has been targeted a team-high 93 times.

–Field Level Media

Dec 5, 2021; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Adrian Peterson (21) returns to the locker room following pregame warmups against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Seahawks RB Adrian Peterson (out) missing game vs. Texans

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One week after making his Seattle debut, Seahawks running back Adrian Peterson won’t play in this Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans due to a back injury.

Peterson, 36, isn’t listed on the team’s injury report because he is on the practice squad. Seattle might have elevated him for the game if not for the injury.

“He had a lower back issue that came up, and he felt it a little bit coming into Wednesday, and then on Wednesday he couldn’t go,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll told reporters on Friday. “We’re going to hold him out. We’ve got to take care of him and look after him.”

Peterson had just 16 yards on 11 carries against the San Francisco 49ers last Sunday but he did score his 126th career touchdown to tie legendary Jim Brown for 10th place on the all-time list.

Seattle also will be without running back Travis Homer (calf, hamstring). Alex Collins (abdomen) will play after missing the game against the 49ers. Collins has a team-high 395 rushing yards.

Right tackle Brandon Shell (shoulder) and center/guard Kyle Fuller (calf) were also ruled out, while safety Quandre Diggs (calf) is questionable.

–Field Level Media

New England Patriots NFL offensive line Trent Brown

Patriots remove RT Trent Brown from IR, add LB Jamie Collins to list

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The New England Patriots activated starting right tackle Trent Brown off injured reserve and placed veteran linebacker Jamie Collins on the same list on Saturday, one day before a home game against the Cleveland Browns.

Brown has been sidelined since suffering a calf injury in the season-opening game against the Miami Dolphins. He was placed on injured reserve on Oct. 9.

Brown, 28, returned to the Patriots this season for his second stint with the team. He has played in 64 career games (61 starts) over seven NFL seasons with the San Francisco 49ers (2015-17), New England (2018), and the Raiders (2019 in Oakland, 2020 in Las Vegas).

Collins missed practice all week with an ankle injury. The move to IR means he will have to miss at least three games.

Collins, 32, is a member of the Patriots for the third time. He also played for the team from 2013-16 and in 2019. He spent the 2020 seasons with the Detroit Lions and was released after two games this season before rejoining New England.

Collins has seven tackles, one sacks and one interception in five games with the Patriots. For his career, he has 693 tackles, 26.5 sacks, 19 forced fumbles, 12 interceptions and eight fumble recoveries.

Collins was a Pro Bowl selection in 2015 and has topped 100 tackles four times. He also has played for Cleveland (2016-18). He was acquired by the Browns from New England midway through the 2016 season.

–Field Level Media

Sep 12, 2021; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions outside linebacker Jamie Collins (8) celebrates after recovering a fumble during the first quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

Lions confirm LB Jamie Collins on trade block

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Lions linebacker Jamie Collins was excused from the team facility on Thursday as Detroit shops for a trade partner.

Head coach Dan Campbell said Thursday that Collins has taken a commendable approach to the Lions’ decision to push other players into larger roles.

Collins, 31, was not at practice and could be released if a trade doesn’t materialize.

“He gave what he had, and we felt like it was time to move on. … We’re in a different place,” Campbell said Thursday.

Campbell pointed to Derrick Barnes as a player who earned a larger role following the Week 2 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Barnes played special teams Monday but was not used on defense.

Collins had 101 tackles in 14 games for the Lions last season.

He turns 32 next month and is in his 10th NFL season, having also played for the New England Patriots and Cleveland Browns.

–Field Level Media

Sep 27, 2020; Seattle, Washington, USA; Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle Terence Steele (78) stands on the sidelines during the third quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Jerry Jones: Cowboys to start Terence Steele at RT

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Cowboys general manager Jerry Jones said Terence Steele will start at right tackle Sunday when the Cowboys visit the Los Angeles Chargers.

Steele, 24, started 14 of 16 games last season as an undrafted rookie out of Texas Tech.

“He’ll do a good job out there. We’ll give him a lot of help,” Jones said Tuesday morning during an appearance on 105.3 FM The Fan.

Jones confirmed that La’el Collins, who started at right tackle in the season-opening loss at Tampa Bay, will not play as he fights a five-game suspension handed down Friday by the NFL.

Collins, 28, was suspended for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.

Jones also said kicker Greg Zuerlein, who missed two field goals and an extra point in the 31-29 loss against the Buccaneers, is dealing with a quad injury.

The Cowboys reportedly signed kicker Lirim Hajrullahu to the practice squad on Monday. He was with Dallas for part of the preseason.

–Field Level Media

Nov 24, 2019; Foxborough, MA, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) reacts with offensive tackle La'el Collins (71) during warm up before the start of the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Cowboys RT La’el Collins sidelined, in doubt for Week 1

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Right tackle La’el Collins did not practice Friday and the Cowboys are preparing to go with their backups next Thursday when Dallas visits the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Collins continues to fight a stinger in his neck and shoulder that limits his mobility and range of motion as a blocker.

Head coach Mike McCarthy said Collins is “day to day” but the time has arrived for the team to plan for his absence. Accordingly, Ty Nsekhe and Terence Steele are rotating at the position and would be line to start should Collins sit out Week 1.

McCarthy said “we are in a holding pattern” regarding plans for Collins to work out or practice next week.

Left guard Connor Williams remains on the COVID/reserve list, but McCarthy indicated he could return soon.

The last time the Buccaneers’ defense faced a bunch of backup offensive linemen, Tampa’s front seven devoured the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl with three sacks, forced two interceptions and hit quarterback Patrick Mahomes eight times. Kansas City’s potent offense scored nine points and never reached the end zone.

McCarthy said there are no physical limitations on Dak Prescott, who is a “full go” entering Week 1 after spending the majority of training camp on a pitch count to protect his strained right shoulder.

–Field Level Media

Nov 14, 2020; Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA; Tulsa Golden Hurricane linebacker Zaven Collins (23) gets ready for a play during the game against the Southern Methodist Mustangs at Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium. Tulsa won 28-24. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports

Tulsa LB Collins wins Nagurski Trophy

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Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins won the 2020 Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Wednesday as the best defensive player in college football.

The 6-foot-4, 260-pound junior registered 53 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, four interceptions and two forced fumbles in eight games for the Golden Hurricane. He returned two picks for touchdowns: 38 yards at South Florida (Oct. 23) and 96 yards vs. Tulane (Nov. 19).

Collins, 21, is the second player from the American Athletic Conference to win the honor, joining Temple linebacker Tyler Matakevich (2015).

He was selected by the Football Writers Association of America over four other finalists: Coastal Carolina defensive end Tarron Jackson, Iowa defensive tackle Daviyon Nixon, Notre Dame linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Alabama cornerback Patrick Surtain II.

“I’m honored and blessed to receive the Bronko Nagurski Trophy. It’s awe-inspiring to be mentioned in the same breath as Bronko Nagurski and the many great players who won this award before me,” Collins said in a news release. “I’m so thankful for this honor and for all the people who have put me in this position — my family, coaches, teammates and fan base.”

Tulsa (6-2) is scheduled to face Mississippi State (3-7) in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 31 in Fort Worth, Texas.

–Field Level Media

Nov 22, 2018; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys center Joe Looney (73) and quarterback Dak Prescott (4) in action during the game between the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Dallas OL: Looney sidelined, Collins needs surgery

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Dallas Cowboys center Joe Looney is sidelined indefinitely with a knee injury and tackle La’el Collins is headed for season-ending hip surgery, owner and general manager Jerry Jones said Tuesday.

Looney, 30, sprained his right MCL on the first snap of Sunday’s 49-38 home loss to the Cleveland Browns.

“Joe will be missed,” Jones said. “He is truly one of the leaders of this football team, and he will be missed out there.”

Looney has played in all 68 games (24 starts) since joining the Cowboys as a free agent in 2016. He spent his first three seasons (2012-14) with the San Francisco 49ers and played one year with the Tennessee Titans (2015).

Rookie Tyler Biadasz, a fourth-round pick from Wisconsin, replaced Looney and has played 133 snaps over the last two games.

Collins, 27, was limited in training camp and placed on injured reserve before the start of the season. Jones confirmed reports that Collins’ season would be over if his ailing hip requires surgery.

“It looks that way this morning, and it will be that way if he has surgery,” Jones said. “Right at this particular time, there’s a plan for him to have surgery, but I don’t have any particulars on that.”

Collins started 61 of his 62 games for the Cowboys from 2015-19.

Undrafted rookie Terence Steele and second-year tackle Brandon Knight have been playing in Collins’ absence.

The Cowboys (1-3) are at home Sunday against the winless New York Giants.

–Field Level Media