Detroit linebacker Jamie Collins was held out of a walk-through for non-injury reasons Wednesday, according to the team, and multiple media outlets reported that the Lions are looking into trading the 31-year-old veteran.
Collins, who is in his second season with Detroit, recorded 10 total tackles and a fumble recovery in the Lions’ first two games.
However, after the team’s 35-17 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Monday, Detroit coach Dan Campbell noted the emergence of rookie linebacker Derrick Barnes, saying, “Jamie had some mistakes. It wasn’t certainly his best performance, and, yeah, I think Barnes deserves a shot. …
Campbell added that Collins remains a valuable contributor on third down.
“Look, Jamie is a big linebacker.
He’s a very athletic linebacker,” the coach said. “The way he moves is a little bit different. Now, does he move with the same effort or have the same effort as Alex (Anzalone)? No, I don’t (think so). I think Alex just plays at a high level all of the time. That’s him.
That’s how it goes.
“Jamie — there are things that Jamie does well that we still have to continue to use. He’s still a mismatch on third down, particularly in the rush game, and we’ll see where this goes.”
If they trade Collins, the Lions (0-2) would add $3.53 million in dead salary-cap space for 2021, according to Spotrac, plus $6.67 million in dead cap space for 2022.
A deal would give Detroit $3.8 million in bonus cap room and also eliminate Collins’ $9.8 million salary for 2022.
Collins, a second-round draft pick of the Patriots in 2013, played with New England from 2013-16 and in 2019. He made the Pro Bowl in 2015 and was part of two Super Bowl championship teams with the Patriots.
Collins also played for the Cleveland Browns from 2016-18.
He signed a three-year, $30 million contract with Detroit in March 2020, and he recorded one sack, one interception, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and 101 tackles in 14 games (all starts) for MenangQQ link alternatif the Lions last year.
In 112 career NFL games (102 starts), Collins has 25.5 sacks, 11 interceptions, 19 forced fumbles, eight fumble recoveries and 686 tackles.
–Field Level Media