Three snaps. One sack.
That’s what Jamie Collins’ 2021 debut for the New England Patriots looked like on paper. The linebacker entered his third stint with the team last week after the Detroit Lions cut Collins on Sept. 29 and he joined the Patriots on Oct. 6. He immediately made an impact with practically no playing time against the Houston Texans in Week 5. It showed that — even after more than a year away from New England — Collins is plenty familiar with the team’s playbook, scheme and way of doing things.
Collins, who still leads the Lions in run stuffs, logged his sack in the fourth quarter amid the team’s comeback from a 13-point deficit.
“It’s like two (Matthew) Judons, bro,” linebacker Dont’a Hightower said when asked about Collins’ return on Wednesday. “I know ya’ll probably don’t even see that side of Jamie, but he brings a lot of positive energy. It’s great to have him back, his work ethic and everything he brings.”
It seems like the comparison between Collins and Judon goes beyond playing style — where they’re actually quite different. It’s more about personality.
“Oh yeah, that’s my dog,” Judon said of Collins. “We’re going to be vibing. He brings a positive spirit and a good energy, even if he doesn’t talk a lot. … He’s very chill, relaxed, mild-mannered. The dude just knows how to make plays.”
Collins’ stint in Detroit ended on a low note, with the linebacker struggling in a matchup against the Green Bay Packers. He joined the team when coach Matt Patricia was in place, and Collins seemed to fall out of favor with the new leadership group, which includes coach Dan Campbell. The same was true of Collins’ tenure with the Cleveland Browns, who replaced coach Hue Jackson with Gregg Williams during the linebacker’s three-year stint. After both trips away from New England, he returned to the Patriots, where he started his career as a second-round draft pick.
While his time away from the Patriots has been turbulent, his production with the Patriots has been impressive.
“I think we’re similar, but like I said, that dude is so crazy athletic,” Judon said. “(He played) three plays, and he had a sack. And when we put him in more, he’ll be a lot more productive. I don’t want to take anything away from Jamie by saying he’s something like me. He’s his own player and his own man. Jamie has been playing good football for the Patriots longer than I’ve been in the league. It’s going to be nice to have him playing alongside me.”
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