The Buffalo Bills signed offensive tackle La’El Collins to a one-year contract. The terms of the deal have not been disclosed. Collins missed the entire 2023 season due to a torn ACL and MCL injury he suffered in Week 16 of the 2022 NFL season.

During his injury, he played for the Cincinnati Bengals, his second NFL team. The Bengals placed him on the reserve/physically unable to perform list to begin the 2023 season, but he was cut soon after.

Collins had a second opportunity with the Dallas Cowboys, the team that initially signed him after he went undrafted in 2015. However, he returned as a practice squad member on January 2, 2024, after recovering from his injury. His contract with the Cowboys ended after their loss to the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card Round.

Despite winning the 2014 Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the Southeastern Conference’s best offensive lineman, he went undrafted after his agent threatened he would hold out during his rookie season if any team selected him after the third round. He was also scheduled to talk to Louisiana State police after the draft because of the fatal shooting of a pregnant woman he previously had a relationship with.

Since Collins predominantly played right tackle throughout his career, he will likely be Spencer Brown’s backup in Buffalo.

-Lance Fernandez