Offensive Tackle La’el Collins has been suspended five games by the NFL for violating the Substance Abuse Policy. The Dallas Cowboys’ starting right tackle will miss Weeks 2-6 and, according to reports, has already attempted to appeal and failed.
Collins started last night as the Cowboys lost their season opener to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His status for the game had been in question just days earlier as he missed practices with a neck stinger, but La’el returned in time to play in Week 1.
Now he will be out until October.
My understanding is La’El Collins was suspended for missing drug tests. Essentially, failure to appear. https://t.co/L4dL8GgRp3
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 10, 2021
Cowboys RT La'el Collins suspended five games, without pay, for violation of league's substance-abuse policy, source confirms to @usatodaysports. Suspension lands after an attempted appeal. An unfortunate turn for tackle who missed all of 2020 due to injury.
— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) September 10, 2021
This makes veteran Ty Nsekhe the likely starter at right tackle. Signed to be the swing tackle, he’s maintained that status despite being 35 years old and having younger prospects like Brandon Knight and Terence Steele competing for the job.
Guard Zack Martin was out last night due to the COVID-19 protocol but nearly returned to play the Bucs. He should be back for Week 2 and will hopefully keep the right side of the offensive line solvent in Collins’ absence.
Mercy you can almost see the Cowboys season circling the drain already.
Next man step up like Conner Wiliams
That’s what happens when you sign players with huge character marks and put them in important positions you generally get burned seems like it happens every year
I hope they move Martin outside to fill Collins spot. If they were happy with what they saw from Connor against Tampa this gives you your best 5 players in the game. I like the thought of Martin going against Bosa this week…and I am guessing Dak does as well.
I think it’ll be better to put Martin out there at RT and let Connor McGovern stay in at RG!! McGovern played against the bucs and he was one linemen that we didn’t hear anything about, and that’s a good thing!! We heard Tyron smith’s name for holding, we heard Connor Williams name for holding and we seen Tyler Biadasz get beat up the middle, but we didn’t have any problems out of Connor McGovern!! So I think the best thing to do is put Martin in at tackle and keep McGovern at guard!! I just don’t trust Nsekhe enough to play him, not after seeing him get beat so much in training camp!!
I thought they were gonna stop suspending players over drug tests…. They are only supposed to be fined!! I think there’s something going on with this situation!! Collins just didn’t show up for some drug tests, he didn’t actually fail any!! I know in most cases a person that don’t show up for a drug test will be considered to have failed a drug test, but even if that’s what the NFL did with Collins, they still should’ve given him a fine, not suspend him!! And then the NFL does something to where Collins and his lawyer can’t appeal it!! That’s not right!!
Agree with putting Martin outside and keeping McGovern at G. Makes sense.
Do not understand these players that do these PEDs. He missed the test(s) for a reason. They know the consequences. Just hurting the team.