Though, earlier today, it seemed as if La’el Collins was the victor of a two-man audition with Geron Christian today in Dallas, it appears both players will get a chance with the team in training camp. Following today’s announcement that Collins would be reuniting with the team that signed him out of college, Christian was announced as a signee, as well, in an announcement from his representation.
The Cowboys offensive line is dealing with a bit of a hiccup as starting left tackle Tyler Guyton is now expected to miss several weeks due to a bone fracture and sprained knee. They also are currently without free agent guard addition Robert Jones. The team has Terence Steele entrenched at right tackle, but Jones is a key swing option following the first-round selection of pure guard Tyler Booker. All-Pro Tyler Smith is locked in at left guard, with the Cowboys resisting a move back to tackle for the ascending performer at the moment.
Christian joins Collins now as camp bodies, depth options who will need to use this opportunity to secure a bigger role. Collins has a leg up in both starting experience and experience with this team, but Christian has had more success with recent opportunities. Collins hasn’t appeared in a regular season game in either of the past two seasons.
Originally a third-round pick out of Louisville in 2018, Christian’s tenure in Washington was marred by injury. After tearing his MCL as a rookie with only two games under his belt, Christian was set up for redemption as he was named to be the successor to departing left tackle Trent Williams. Christian started six games before suffering a knee injury and missing the rest of the season.
After getting waived in the following offseason, Christian was claimed by the Texans. When both starting tackles went down with injuries in the first five weeks of the season, Christian was called upon to start at left tackle in eight games in 2021. After signing as a free agent with Kansas City and seeing little success, Christian returned to the Texans in 2023 but was cut shortly into the year.
He would land on the Browns’ practice squad and once again get forced into action when both starting tackles went down with injuries. He started the final nine games of the season for Cleveland at left tackle. Christian would once again branch out, signing with the Titans in 2024, then landing on the Rams’ practice squad when he failed to make the roster in Tennessee, and ultimately, getting signed off Los Angeles’ p-squad to rejoin the Browns in a special teams role.
He’ll compete now for another opportunity to stick around, ready to take over in case of injury. He joins Collins as the two new linemen in camp, and they’ll have work to do in order to make the roster for 2025.
The Cowboys have a prime time game in Detroit in early December. Will we see a Christian being fed to the Lions?