National Football League

Cowboys sign La'el Collins to bolster O-line ahead of playoff run

Updated Jan. 4, 2024 1:11 p.m. ET

The Dallas Cowboys are welcoming back a familiar face after signing right tackle La'el Collins to its practice squad Thursday, the team announced.

Collins spent six seasons with the Cowboys, starting 71 games as part of one of the best offensive lines in football alongside Zack Martin and Tyron Smith. He signed a five-year, $50 million contract extension with Dallas in 2019, but he was sidelined with injuries for the entire 2020 season. He was also handed a five-game suspension in 2021 after missing multiple drug tests.

After being released prior to the 2022 season, Collins inked a three-year, $21 million dollar deal with the Cincinnati Bengals. He started 15 games with the Bengals last season, but suffered an ACL tear late in the year that kept him out of the playoffs for Cincinnati.

The 30-year-old was released in September and has not appeared in a game this season. The addition of Collins will bolster the Cowboys' offensive line depth, as starting left guard Tyler Smith suffered a torn plantar fascia this past weekend.

Dallas also signed linebacker Damien Wilson to its practice squad Thursday as well. The 2015 fourth-round pick started in 22 games for the Cowboys before playing with the Kansas City Chiefs, Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers. The Cowboys have leaned on Damone Clark and Markquese Bell, a converted safety, to handle the duties at linebacker after losing Leighton Vander Esch to a neck injury in October.

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