L.J. Collier earns starting nod at defensive end for Seahawks in Atlanta

Now in his sophomore season, L.J. Collier has earned the starting nod at defensive end for Seattle Seahawks in Atlanta Week 1.

While the Seattle Seahawks may be playing coy about announcing who will start at right cornerback this Sunday in Atlanta, coach Pete Carroll wasn’t shy when he stated L.J. Collier would be getting the nod at defensive end against the Falcons.

“He has had a good camp, he’s going to get a chance to start in this game,” Carroll told reporters after Friday’s walkthrough. “There’ll be a good rotation there, but it’s because he’s earned it and he’s played really well, so I’m anxious to get him out there.”

Seattle selected Collier in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft but the rookie didn’t see the lion’s share of action last season. Things could be looking up for Collier in 2020. Carroll explained why.

“He’s in better shape than he was a year ago,” Carroll said. “He’s just healthier and quicker and stronger in every way, and he made it through camp healthy as well. Remember he got banged up early on there with a really nasty ankle. So we’ve just seen him much more to his ability level. His ankle bothered him even when he came back last year, so we never really saw him.”

Collier and the rest of the Seahawks are slated to take Mercedes-Benz field Sunday morning for an early 10:00 a.m. kickoff.

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