HEADLINES

Alex Collins

NFC Notes: Seahawks, Redskins, Prescott

March 6th, 2020 at 8:04pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Seahawks could be adding to their backfield soon. Seattle is still interested in veteran running back Alex Collins, according to Brady Henderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link). The Seahawks worked out Collins back in January, but didn’t end up signing him at the time. Of course there is plenty of familiarity here, as Collins started his career with the Seahawks back in 2016. A fifth-round pick out of Arkansas, Collins was waived after a rookie season where he played sparingly. He signed with Baltimore, and ended up having a breakout 2017 season with the Ravens.

He became their full-time starter, racking up 973 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games. He again operated as their starter for much of the 2018 season, but a foot injury cut his year short. He was arrested in March of last year and waived by the Ravens shortly after. He received a three-game suspension from the league, and spent all of 2019 out of football. Still only 25 he should resurface somewhere for 2020, and it sounds like there’s a good chance it’s with the Seahawks.

Here’s more from the NFC:

  • The Jets are going to have some competition for Trent Williams. Earlier today we heard New York was targeting the left tackle after the Redskins said they would allow him to seek a trade, and they aren’t the only ones. Multiple teams have inquired about Williams since the news broke, a source told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (Twitter link). It’s unclear which teams, although the Browns are apparently thinking about making another run at him. Whoever trades for Williams better be prepared to pay up, as he’s reportedly looking to become the league’s highest-paid tackle on a new contract.
  • Things continue to inch forward with the Cowboys and their pair of superstar impending free agents. The Cowboys met with Dak Prescott‘s agent for the first time since the start of the 2019 season last week, and they met for a second time this past week, a source told Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News. While there appears to be some momentum gathering, it also doesn’t sound like anything is particularly close, as Watkins writes everything is in a “holding pattern” as both sides await a resolution on the new CBA. Watkins writes that Dallas also met with receiver Amari Cooper‘s reps for a second time. Watkins reiterated his earlier report that the Cowboys have offered Prescott an annual salary of $33MM with $105MM in guarantees. It’s likely going to take a lot more than that to get a deal done.
  • The Buccaneers have made a minor addition to Bruce Arians’ coaching staff. Tampa has hired Keith Tandy as their new special teams assistant, according to Greg Auman of The Athletic (Twitter link). As Auman points out it’s a familiar name, since Tandy spent six years with the Bucs as a player from 2012-17. The former safety from West Virginia spent some time with the Falcons in 2018 before hanging up his cleats.

Dolphins Work Out Alex Collins

January 28th, 2020 at 11:24am CST by Zachary Links

The Dolphins worked out former Ravens running back Alex Collins, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Collins didn’t play last season, but he’s aiming to get back to work in 2020.

Collins led the Ravens in rushing in 2017 with 973 yards, so he’d be a logical fit for the Dolphins as they look to revamp their backfield. Collins would not be the centerpiece of the Dolphins’ RB group, but he’d be an option worth exploring as a part of the team’s 90-man roster. The Dolphins figure to have upwards of $90MM in cap space and a bevy of draft picks, so they should have ample opportunities to upgrade.

Collins served his three-game ban for marijuana possession while in free agency limbo, so he’s ready to go for Week 1 of the upcoming season. If he doesn’t sign with the Dolphins, it’s possible that he could circle back to the Seahawks, Packers, and Bills – the teams he auditioned for down the stretch.

In addition to Collins, the Dolphins also worked out CFL quarterback Chris Streveler, Yates reports.

Seahawks Audition Alex Collins, Roc Thomas

January 2nd, 2020 at 12:10pm CST by Zachary Links

Even after signing Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin, the Seahawks’ search for running back help continues. This week, they auditioned RBs Alex Collins and Roc Thomas. 

In their season finale against the 49ers, the Seahawks eased Lynch and Turbin into their new roles. Lynch saw time on 23 snaps and Turbin played on just eight special teams snaps. Meanwhile, rookie Travis Homer carried the brunt of the load with 50 of 75 offensive snaps. The Seahawks ultimately came up short, losing 26-21 to their divisional rivals.

It’s not clear whether the Seahawks are to sign Collins and Thomas in advance of their Wild Card game, or if they’re simply keeping their emergency lists up to date. Collins, a fifth-round pick of the team back in 2016, has been out of football throughout 2019. Ditto for Thomas, who hasn’t played since his five-game stint with the Vikings last year.

The Seahawks and their new-look backfield will face the Eagles on Sunday in Philadelphia.

NFL Workout Updates: 12/17/19

December 17th, 2019 at 9:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Tuesday’s notable workout updates:

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Los Angeles Chargers

  • LB Cameron Judge*, LB Nick Usher*

Washington Redskins

 

* = CFL player

Bills Worked Out RB Alex Collins

December 14th, 2019 at 9:03am CST by Ben Levine

The Bills had some notable names in for workouts on Friday. Buffalo auditioned running back Alex Collins and kicker Kaare Vedvik, according to ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques (and passed along by Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com). Running back Ricky Ortiz and defensive backs A.J. Howard and Chris Johnson also worked out for the Bills.

A fifth-round pick of the Seahawks in 2016, Collins broke out the following season after making his way onto the Ravens’ active roster. In 15 games (12 starts), Collins posted 973 yards and six touchdowns on 212 carries, good for 4.6 yards per attempt. He also finished eighth in Football Outsiders‘ success rate, which measures how well a running back helps move the sticks.

He struggled a bit in 2018, and his season ended with him being placed on the injured reserve. This year, Collins was recovering from a broken leg, and he was slapped with a three-game ban after pleading guilty to two misdemeanor charges for possession of a handgun and possession of marijuana. We heard back in November that Collins was fully recovered and was no longer suspended.

Vedvik earned some hype as Justin Tucker‘s backup in Baltimore, and the Ravens traded him to the Vikings for a fifth-rounder back in August. The 25-year-old didn’t catch on with Minny, and his next stop with the Jets lasted only one game.

Ortiz, 25, appeared in 12 games (nine starts) last season for the Falcons, hauling in three catches. He spent part of the 2019 campaign on the Saints practice squad. Howard, a former undrafted free agent out of Appalachian State, hasn’t made his NFL debut despite spending time with six organizations. Johnson, 24, is an undrafted rookie out of Grand Valley State.

Free Agent RB Alex Collins Now Healthy, No Longer Suspended

November 21st, 2019 at 9:51pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Free agent running back Alex Collins has recovered from a broken leg he suffered earlier this year and is now available to work out for teams, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).

Not only has Collins regained his health, but his three-game suspension has officially concluded, per Rapoport. The 25-year-old was handed the ban earlier this month pleading guilty to two misdemeanor charges for possession of a handgun and possession of marijuana.

A fifth-round pick of the Seahawks in 2016, Collins broke out the following season after making his way onto the Ravens’ active roster. In 15 games (12 starts), Collins posted 973 yards and six touchdowns on 212 carries, good for 4.6 yards per attempt. He also finished eighth in Football Outsiders‘ success rate, which measures how well a running back helps move the sticks.

It’s unclear if any NFL clubs will have interest in Collins as the end of the regular season approaches. While teams will surely be wary of Collins’ off-field problems and health question marks, his age and past production will likely garner him a few workouts.

NFL Suspends Ravens’ Alex Collins

November 1st, 2019 at 10:39am CST by Zachary Links

Free agent running back Alex Collins has been suspended for three games by the NFL, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). Meanwhile, Collins is also expected to receive medical clearance on his broken leg. 

The suspension stems from misdemeanor charges for possession of a handgun and possession of marijuana. Collins got his legal situation squared away in early October and, roughly four weeks later, the NFL has dropped the hammer.

Collins could represent a strong addition for teams in need of backfield help in the second half of the year. As Rapoport notes, several big-name running backs like Devonta Freeman and Le’Veon Bell were discussed at the trade deadline, but only Kenyan Drake was traded. That’s a clear signal that there’s a buyer’s market for experienced RBs, and Collins fits the bill.

Collins was never able to put it all together with the Ravens and off-the-field trouble also hampered him early in his career. But, his athleticism and age (25) suggests that there could still be some potential to unlock. Collins has started 22 games over the past two seasons and boasts a career average of 4.2 yards per carry.

Alex Collins Pleads Guilty To Charges

October 4th, 2019 at 7:39pm CST by Zachary Links

Free agent running back Alex Collins has pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges for possession of a handgun and possession of marijuana, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. In exchange, he had all of his felony charges dropped. 

Collins’ charges will be expunged from his record after three years and he’ll be fined only $200. However, the prospect of an NFL suspension still looms for the 2016 fifth-round pick and he’s not expected to be fully recovered from his broken leg until around Halloween.

Even before his arrest and subsequent dismissal from the team, Collins was very much on the Ravens’ roster bubble. Although he was terrific for Baltimore in 2017 and entered 2018 as the club’s No. 1 back, he managed just 3.6 yards per carry last season and was ultimately surpassed on the depth chart by Kenneth Dixon and UDFA Gus Edwards. He was a restricted free agent, but it was rumored that the Ravens were not going to tender Collins even at the lowest level. His arrest simply hastened his exit.

Still, Collins has plenty of upside, and given that he almost put together a 1,000-yard season in 2017 despite playing in just 12 games, he should garner some attention.

FA RB Alex Collins Suffers Broken Leg

July 15th, 2019 at 7:53pm CST by Rory Parks

Free agent running back Alex Collins suffered a broken leg and recently underwent surgery, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (via Twitter). Collins was waived by the Ravens several months ago immediately following an arrest on drug and gun charges.

However, Rapoport says that Collins’ legal issues are nearing a resolution and that he had drawn interest from multiple teams. He was expected to play this year, but now he will have to wait to get back on the field.

Even before his arrest and subsequent dismissal from the team, Collins was very much on the Ravens’ roster bubble. Although he was terrific for Baltimore in 2017 and entered 2018 as the club’s No. 1 back, he managed just 3.6 yards per carry last season and was ultimately surpassed on the depth chart by Kenneth Dixon and UDFA Gus Edwards. He was a restricted free agent, but it was rumored that the Ravens were not going to tender Collins even at the lowest level. His arrest simply hastened his exit.

Still, the 2016 fifth-round pick has plenty of upside, and given that he almost put together a 1,ooo-yard season in 2017 despite playing in just 12 games, it’s understandable that he would be garnering some attention. However, it’s unclear when he will be able to resume football activity.

Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com tweets that Collins’ next court date is July 22. Hensley’s tweet also includes Collins’ Instagram post detailing his injury.

Ravens Waive RB Alex Collins

March 1st, 2019 at 3:03pm CST by Zachary Links

The Ravens announced that they have waived running back Alex Collins. The move comes hours after Collins was arrested in connection with a Friday morning car crash. 

[RELATED: Ravens’ Nick Boyle Has 20 Teams Interested]

Collins, 25 in August, enjoyed a breakout season in 2017, but was something of an afterthought in 2018. After averaging 4.6 yards per carry as Baltimore’s lead back in 2017, he let down Ravens fans and fantasy players everywhere with a 3.6 yards per carry season. Now, the Ravens are moving forward with Gus Edwards as their lead back and Collins will try to hook on elsewhere.

Collins was unlikely to receive even the lowest possible tender from the Ravens, so the transaction effectively gives him an early jump on free agency. The rest of the league’s available players will not be free to sign until March 13.

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