La’el Collins returns to Cowboys practice after injury earlier in week

Cowboys tackle La’el Collins will practice Friday and participate in the preseason game against the Houston Texans on Saturday. | From @NoHuddle

Fans of the Dallas Cowboys have been burned before when it comes to the team underselling injuries. The amount of times that a hurt player’s prognosis was considered “day to day” only for it to turn into a prolonged situation are too numerous to recount.

One of the most recent examples involved La’el Collins who had an issue heading into training camp in 2020. What began as a conditioning issue actually saw him return to the field on August 28, 2020 for work in team drills. He played zero regular season games and underwent surgery for his hip in early October. So when he pulled himself out of practice Wednesday with a neck injury, the Cowboys collective held their breath.

It might be time to exhale, as head coach Mike McCarthy told reporters during Friday morning’s session that Collins is expected to practice as well as play in Saturday’s annual preseason tilt with the Houston Texans.

Other tidbits include McCarthy’s belief that the defense is ahead of the offense and the starters on that side of the ball will likely go the entire first half. That group will not include DeMarcus Lawrence who is still working his way back into the fold from offseason back surgery.

Cowboys RT La’el Collins exits Wednesday practice early with neck injury

Collins exited practice on Wednesday with a neck injury. The Cowboys front struggled without him in 2020 and will need him back soon. | From @CDBurnett7

Starting right tackle La’el Collins has been getting back into a groove during training camp. Collins missed all of the Dallas Cowboys’ 2020 season with a hip injury that required surgery and he’s been on the recovery trail all offseason. Without Collins, a slough of backups took snaps at right tackle last season, allowing pass rushers to wreak havoc on Dallas quarterbacks in every game where the position wasn’t manned by Zack Martin.

During this year’s camp, Collins has spent his time back as the starter, alongside the returning All-Pros, Martin and left tackle Tyron Smith. The trio has had a clean camp so far, but Collins was pulled from practice on Wednesday, just the team’s second since returning to Texas from Oxnard, CA.

Details on the severity of the injury have yet to be revealed, but things look hopeful.

The Cowboys have gotten used to being careful in 2021, easing quarterback Dak Prescott back in over the last week due to a shoulder strain the first week of camp and it’s possible they’ll have to do the same with Collins.

After the injury, new swing tackle Ty Nsekhe took over snaps during practice. Nsekhe has been a journeyman in the NFL since earning a spot on the Colts in 2012 and has a lot of experience that may prove valuable if Collins’ injury is potentially long-term.

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