Linebacker Collins returns to Patriots ... again
He’s back. Again.
The Patriots have signed free-agent linebacker Jamie Collins, the team announced Wednesday. The 31-year-old veteran is entering his third stint with the team, after most recently leaving New England as a free agent in March 2020. Collins left to sign a three-year, $30 million deal with the Lions, who cut him last month to give snaps to younger players.
Collins was a healthy scratch for his last game with Detroit in Week 3. He managed 10 tackles and one fumble recovery the two weeks before, but was victimized in coverage. According to Pro Football Focus, Collins also recorded a quarterback hit and one hurry during losses to the 49ers and Packers.
In 2020, Collins led the Lions with 101 tackles. In 2019, he enjoyed a career renaissance with the Patriots, making 85 tackles, snatching three interceptions and forcing three fumbles. He also broke up four passes.
His old teammates were elated to see him Wednesday in the team facility.
“It’s fun, man. As soon as he got in here, (he was) cracking jokes and getting it going,” said Pats defensive captain Devin McCourty. “(He’s) obviously a guy that’s played here and played at an extremely high level throughout his career, so having him back here is going to be great. I think he brings great energy and a presence in the locker room just by how he is.
Collins originally entered the league as a second-round pick in 2013 out of Southern Miss. He played three and a half seasons with the Patriots, before getting traded in 2016 to Cleveland, where he flamed out after a couple years. He’s made one Pro Bowl and won two Super Bowls over his career, all with the Pats.
His entrance coincided with Stephon Gilmore’s exit on Wednesday.
“It’s like I lost one friend and I got another one back,” said running back Brandon Bolden. “It’s been great. We missed him to death. We definitely stayed in touch. We always stayed in touch. Jamie’s been like a little brother to me. Great to have him back, and we’ll see how that goes.”
Collins joins fellow inside linebackers Dont’a Hightower, Kyle Van Noy, Ja’Whaun Bentley and Harvey Langi on the team’s depth chart. Bentley missed last Sunday’s loss to Tampa Bay with a shoulder injury, which forced the team to elevate Jahlani Tavai off the practice squad and give him reserve snaps for a second straight week.
Another linebacker, Josh Uche, said Collins has already made an impression, despite never having met him before Wednesday.
“Just watching him on film when I first got here, just seeing how athletic he is, how explosive he is. (I was) just kind of trying to take some things from his game and put it into my game,” Uche said. “The things I saw on film from last year, from studying the Pats — definitely some great things I saw.
It’s unknown if Collins will play in the Patriots’ next game Sunday at Houston.