A Dallas Cowboy for nearly seven years and then three weeks in 2025, La’el Collins is being released by the team again.
According to ESPN Cowboys reporter Todd Archer, Collins is among the players being released by the Cowboys on Aug. 24. “Coaches praised his work with young (offensive and defensive linemen),” Archer said on X.
Collins started 71 games for the Cowboys from 2015 to 2021. He rejoined the team during the 2025 training camp, three weeks ago.
GettyARLINGTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 16: Trevon Diggs #7 of the Dallas Cowboys and La’el Collins #71 of the Dallas Cowboys react seconds after the San Francisco 49ers beat the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at AT&T Stadium on January 16, 2022 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
La’el Collins Was Thrilled to be a Cowboy Again
Collins recently shared in an interview with ESPN how excited he was to be back with the Cowboys.
“I mean obviously the best-case scenario was to go back where it all started and that’s to be here,” Collins said. “I mean it’s nowhere [else] I’d rather be, that’s 100% a fact. Even when I left, it was nothing like home. So this is what I know. This is where my heart is, so I want to continue to finish off strong here.”
Collins was part of a cornerstone offensive line that included franchise legends Zack Martin, Tyron Smith and Travis Frederick. He recently attended the retirement ceremonies for Martin and Smith.
“I told them coming into it, like, ‘Hey, I’m coming to you guys’ retirement, but don’t let none of that stuff rub off on me because I’m not done yet,’” Collins said. “It was definitely amazing to go and support your guys as they move on to the next phase of their life. So I’m going to let them lay the foundation for that and I’m going to keep chopping wood on this end. And we’ll meet again.”
La’el Collins Has Been Injured Lately
Projected as a first-round pick out of LSU in 2015, Collins went undrafted after being questioned in the murder of his ex-girlfriend, Brittany Mills, who was eight months pregnant when she was killed in Baton Rouge just six days before the draft. Though later cleared as a suspect and confirmed not to be the child’s father, Collins signed with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent. A decade later, Mills’ case remains unsolved.
Collins started 11 games as a rookie, then went on to start 32 straight games in 2017 and 2018, before securing a 5-year, $50 million contract extension with the Cowboys ahead of the 2019 season.
Collins missed the entire 2020 season with injuries, then was suspended five games in 2021 for violating the league’s substance abuse policy after skipping drug tests and allegedly trying to bribe the test collector.
After requesting and receiving his release from the Cowboys following the 2021 season, Collins signed a 3-year, $21 million deal with the Cincinnati Bengals. He started 15 games before suffering a torn ACL and MCL in Week 16 against the New England Patriots, ending his season.
Collins, who has earned $49.9 million over his career, was released by the Bengals in September 2023 and spent the season recovering from his knee injury. He later signed a one-year, $1.75 million deal with the Buffalo Bills in April 2024 but was released during final roster cuts that August.
In Collins’ last full season in 2022, he allowed 34 pressures, 5 sacks and was called for 8 penalties.
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