Dallas Cowboys hosting former starter La'el Collins for workout ahead of Week 18
The Dallas Cowboys are reportedly hosting former offensive line starter La’el Collins for a workout on Tuesday ahead of the regular season finale against the Washington Commanders this weekend. Collins, who was released from the Cincinnati Bengals’ Physically Unable to Perform list in September, is a free agent and available to sign. If the tackle has a good workout, the Cowboys could sign their former player to the practice squad ahead of their postseason run.
Dallas could use additional depth on the offensive line following injuries to Tyron Smith and Tyler Smith in recent weeks. The left guard tore the plantar fascia in his foot last week against the Dolphins and his status is currently up in the air. The left tackle aggravated his back and missed the game against the Buffalo Bills in Week 16, but played again in Week 17.
Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported on Collins’ visit to the Star on Tuesday. Also visiting Tuesday is former Cowboys linebacker Damien Wilson. Wilson played for the team from 2015-18, racking up 121 total tackles in four seasons. After his stint with Dallas, he played two seasons for Kansas City, one for Jacksonville and one for Carolina.
Collins working out for potential reunion with Cowboys
The Cowboys travel to D.C. for the matchup against the Commanders on Saturday. The Sunday afternoon game has NFC East title implications. If the Cowboys win, they’ll take the title from the Philadelphia Eagles. If Dallas loses and Philadelphia beats New York, then the Eagles keep the title in the first back-to-back win in the NFC East in nearly two decades.
Collins, a former undrafted free agent out of LSU, played six seasons with Dallas before joining the Cincinnati Bengals. He told Jon Machota of The Athletic at the time that he wanted to reunite with his former offensive line coach, Frank Pollack, in Cincinnati.
He signed a three-year deal with the Bengals but it was short-lived. Collins made 15 starts along the Bengals offensive line in 2022 before suffering a torn MCL and ACL in Week 16. He also dealt with a back injury during his time in Cincinnati.
Heading into his last season with Dallas, Collins was the starting right tackle for the Cowboys. However, after being suspended five games after Week 1 by the league for violating their substance abuse policy, he returned to a less-than-warm welcome.
Collins found himself replaced by second-year player Terence Steele instead of going back into the starting lineup. Cowboys coaches and front office officials insisted that the reason was because of the stellar play by Steele in his absence. If the offensive lineman can help Dallas make a postseason run, it would insert a nice new chapter in his history with the team.