The Dallas Cowboys expect to have right tackle La'el Collins on the field for Thursday night's season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
On Tuesday, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told 105.3 The Fan that he believes Collins can play through the neck injury that held him out of practice last week.
"I think we're going to have him for the game, and you're right, I would call this a typical stinger yeah, these guys do usually play with them," Jones said via Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News.
Collins was a full participant in Monday's and Tuesday's practice, a good sign he'd be ready for the season opener.
Having Collins available is a boon for a Cowboys offensive line that is expected to be without star guard Zack Martin, who is on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Jones called it "iffy" that Martin would be cleared with two negative tests before Thursday.
Mike McCarthy sounded equally as unsure about the lineman's status, reiterating Tuesday, “I don’t think Zack is gonna play in the game,” per NFL Network's Jane Slater.
Injuries/COVID-19
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Jordan Whitehead (hamstring) will not play against the Cowboys, NFL Network's Sara Walsh reported. Whitehead did not practice for the second day in a row. Receiver Chris Godwin was added to the injury report with a quad injury and listed as limited. Fellow wideout Antonio Brown did not practice with his knee injury.
- Detroit Lions running back D'Andre Swift is expected to be ready to play Week 1 versus San Francisco, coach Dan Campbell told 97.1 The Ticket, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Swift has been dealing with a groin injury that kept him out of preseason action. Campbell previously said he was uncertain Swift would be ready to play in the season opener, so Tuesday's update is a positive for the Lions' top running back. In addition to Swift, Campbell noted defensive lineman Michael Brockers should play, as well. Brockers was limited throughout training camp and preseason due to an undisclosed injury.
- Denver Broncos tight end Noah Fant (lower left leg) is expected to be ready to go for Sunday's opener against the Giants, NFL Network's James Palmer reported. Fant participated in individual drills Monday for the first time since before the Broncos’ second preseason game on Aug. 21.
- The Seattle Seahawks placed tight end Colby Parkinson and cornerbacks Tre Brown and Nigel Warrior on injured reserve.
- The Pittsburgh Steelers placed receiver Rico Bussey on the practice squad injured list.
- The Tennessee Titans placed defensive back Brady Breeze on the reserve/COVID-19 list following a positive test.
- The Los Angeles Chargers placed defensive back Ryan Smith on the reserved/injured list.
Roster signings
- The Houston Texans are signing former Patriots and Lions wide receiver Danny Amendola to a one-year, $2.5 million deal, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo reported via Amendola's agent. Amendola, a Houston native, played the previous two seasons with the Lions and won two Super Bowls with the Patriots.
- The Seattle Seahawks signed cornerback John Reid and receiver Penny Hart to their active roster from the practice squad. Seattle also announced the signing of former Jets cornerback Blessuan Austin to the active roster and the signing of cornerback Gavin Heslop to the practice squad. The team is also signing linebacker Tanner Muse, a former Raiders third-round pick, to its practice squad, Pelissero reported.
- The Cincinnati Bengals signed quarterback Jake Browning to their practice squad.
- The Atlanta Falcons signed running back Qadree Ollison to the practice squad.
- The Philadelphia Eagles signed cornerback Mac McCain III to their roster off of the Broncos' practice squad.
- The Pittsburgh Steelers signed defensive end Henry Mondeaux, receiver Tyler Vaughns and linebacker Delontae Scott to the practice squad.
- The Houston Texans signed kicker Joey Slye to the practice squad and claimed defensive back Jimmy Moreland off waivers from the Washington Football Team.
- The New York Giants announced the signing of special teams standout Nate Ebner and added receiver C.J. Board and offensive tackle Korey Cunningham to the practice squad.
- The New Orleans Saints signed veteran defensive back Desmond Trufant, Pelissero reported, per the transaction wire.
- The Los Angeles Chargers signed defensive back Kemon Hall.
- The Carolina Panthers signed center Sam Tecklenburg to the active roster from the practice roster and signed cornerback John Brannon to the practice squad.
- The Baltimore Ravens signed running back Le'Veon Bell to their practice squad, Garafolo reported.
Roster cuts
- The Cincinnati Bengals released punter Drue Chrisman from the practice squad.
- The Atlanta Falcons released center Sam Jones from their practice squad.
- The Seattle Seahawks released tight end Mark Vital from the practice squad.
- The Houston Texans waived defensive back Cornell Armstrong.
- The New York Giants terminated the contract of linebacker Todd Davis, who retired last month, and waived receiver Austin Mack with an injury settlement. The Giants also released defensive back Jordyn Peters and guard Kenny Wiggins from the practice squad.
- The New Orleans Saints released veteran running back Latavius Murray, Pelissero reported.
- The Tennessee Titans released safety Bradley McDougald, but added him to the practice squad.
- The Miami Dolphins released linebacker Vince Biegel from the reserve/injured list with an injury settlement.
Contract news
- The New York Giants converted most of the cornerback and team captain Logan Ryan's $5.5 million base salary into a signing bonus, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported. The move creates more cap space heading into the season and will spread Ryan's signing bonus over the remaining years of his contract for cap purposes.
- The Dallas Cowboys created $5 million in extra salary cap space by restructuring quarterback Dak Prescott’s base salary, converting $6.5 million into signing bonus money.
- The Seattle Seahawks are set to adjust left tackle Duane Brown's contract, Rapoport reported. Brown ended his hold-in on Monday.
Visits
- The Las Vegas Raiders worked out former Lions running back Kerryon Johnson, Pelissero reported per the transaction wire.