Cowboys add two of their former players in lineman La’el Collins and linebacker Damien Wilson
On Thursday, the Dallas Cowboys, who haven’t played since 2023, welcomed offensive tackle La’el Collins and linebacker Damien Wilson to their practice squad.
To make way for the signings, the Cowboys cut wide receiver Martavis Bryant and three other players from the practice squad.
Bryant had been out of the NFL for five years after being suspended three times for drug abuse offenses. Dallas signed him in November. The Cowboys, who hope to have the 32-year-old back next season, didn’t see him play in any games.
The addition of Collins, who spent his first six seasons with the Cowboys, comes with left guard Tyler Smith dealing with a foot injury and left tackle Tyron Smith battling a back issue that sidelined him two weeks ago against Miami. Tyron Smith also has missed games with knee and neck injuries.
The 30-year-old Collins signed with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2015 after an off-field issue affected his draft stock. Collins was expected to be a high draft pick.
Collins was suspended for five games in 2021 over substance-abuse violations in a dispute with the league over missed drug tests. Collins sued the NFL in the middle of the suspension, which was based on allegations from the previous season.
Dallas released Collins the next offseason, and he signed with Cincinnati. Collins plays just one season with the Bengals.
Wilson was a fourth-round pick by the Cowboys in 2015 and played four seasons for them. Since then, he has had stints with Kansas City, Jacksonville and Carolina.
For the previous two seasons, McMath was a limited player for Tennessee. The majority of Thompson’s rookie season was spent on Seattle’s practice squad; he is a Dallas native.
Willington Previlon, a defensive lineman, Adam Pankey, a guard, and receiver Tyron Billy-Johnson were the four players cut from the practice squad.
Collins worked out with the Cowboys, the team he developed his career with, following his workout with the Bills. He was thereafter added to their practice squad by them.
Previously considered one of the best tackles in the NFL, Collins coming to the Bills would have been of intrigue because of his past. The Bills have also gotten positive play out of both of their starters at tackle this season, Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown, making the idea even more curious.
Regardless, Collins is back with the Cowboys.
Collins had previously left them for the Bengals.
He signed a five-year, $50 million deal with the Bengals but has not played since tearing his ACL and MCL last year.
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