Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman La'el Collins reinstated following suspension

The Dallas Cowboys Are getting back offensive lineman La’el Collin according to the NFL’s transaction wire. In a story of the rich getting richer, the NFC East-leading Cowboys are set to see the return of their starting right tackle.

Collins suspension saga

The NFL suspended Collins following a dispute over a drug screening and was accused of bribery afterward. The former LSU Tiger was suspended five games for the infraction. The suspension was announced just one day after the Cowboys’ week one loss, 31-29, to the defending champs, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

In response to the suspension, Collins sued the NFL, its management council, and commissioner Roger Goodell. That lawsuit was filed roughly two weeks ago and said a suspension for a missed marijuana test was no longer allowed thanks to the labor agreement signed by the NFL and the NFLPA in 2020. In his lawsuit, Collins requested his suspension be halted and to be reinstated back into the league. The NFL countered his claim stating that Collins had a “long history of discipline for repeated violations.”

Last week, the case went before U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant who ruled to uphold the league’s suspension of the right tackle. Judge Mazzant said that although the NFL suspension of Collins violated the league’s collective bargaining agreement with the players union; the arbitrator’s decision was based on a “reasonable construction of the parties’ agreement.”

Cowboys kept on rolling

Although Collins was out for five games the Cowboys’ offense did pretty good in his absence. Since being suspended, the Cowboys have gone 5-0 and have beaten the AFC West-leading Los Angeles Chargers and handed the Carolina Panthers their first loss on the season, thanks to the offensive play and leadership of quarterback Dak Prescott. Prescott has thrown at least three touchdown passes in four of the five games. Not only that, Dallas has seen a resurgence of their rushing attack in that time. Starting running back Ezekiel Elliott is now top three in the NFL in attempts, yards, and touchdowns. The Cowboys owe credit to Terrence Steele. The backup right tackle played solid in Collins’ absence.

For Collins, he will have to wait one more week before potentially suiting up for the Cowboys again. Not for any particular reason other than this coming up week is Dallas’ bye week. Their next game will be a Sunday night matchup, on Halloween night against the Minnesota Vikings.