Former Dallas Cowboys tackle La’el Collins attempted a reunion with the franchise late this offseason. The Cowboys were dealing with several injuries that opened the door for Collins to make a surprise comeback. It wouldn’t be the first time the veteran shocked fans after becoming one of the best undrafted rookie signings in recent league history. Joining Dallas after the 2015 draft, the lineman would quickly cement his status as one of the most reliable options at the position.

This would continue until shortly after the pandemic, when injuries compounded and left his future in question. Eventually, Collins would seek a trade ahead of his eventual release. This led to a failed tenure with the Cincinnati Bengals and Buffalo Bills. Twice in the years since Collins has attempted to land back on the Cowboys roster, with the latest attempt coming in the 2025 preseason.

Unfortunately, the latest stint is officially over.

Cowboys Continue to Turn the Page From Struggling Lineman La’el Collins

KPRC 2 Houston‘s Aaron Wilson reported on Monday that the Cowboys had cut Collins, along with a flurry of other roster moves. From how early the tackle was taken out of contention for a roster spot, it is clear that a fit was never a real possibility. If Collins wants his career to continue, it is going ot be on a bargain deal to a team struggling with injuries or on the practice squad.

If Collins is able to swallow his pride and return to Dallas on a practice squad deal it wouldn’t be the worst move. Based simply on the veteran’s experience and the possible upside that there could be something left in the tank. The Cowboys should at least consider offering the limited role to Collins when finalizing practice squad offers.

It was always a bit of a long shot that things would work out based simply on the long history of the two sides and the injury issues that have persisted. For Collins, it seems the best path forward is to take advantage of injuries and earn another look. Atlanta stands out as a possibility with the Falcons losing their right tackle, Kaleb McGary, and swing tackle Storm Norton.

For Collins, the easy path is looking either to the Falcons or looking at other shaky injury situations and attempting to breathe life back into a struggling career. If things don’t turn around in the next few weeks, it isn’t a hot take to believe we’ve seen the last of the former Dallas stalwart.