The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
WHICH FALCON HAS BEEN SUSPENDED?
Cornerback has second suspension for violating NFL’s performance-enhancing substances policy.
FLOWERY BRANCH — Atlanta Falcons cornerback Jalen Collins has been suspended without pay for the first 10 games of the season for a violation of the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances, the Falcons announced Sunday.
Collins sat out the first four games of last season, also for flunking a PED test.
“We are extremely disappointed that for the second straight season, we are dealing with a suspension for Jalen,” Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said in a statement. “Such are the consequences when certain choices are made. Our decisions going forward will be based on what (coach Dan Quinn) and I feel is best for the team.”
Collins did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The suspension closed out a curious week for the third-year pro from LSU.
Due to what was then termed a coaching decision, Collins had dropped to working with the third-team defense in training camp since Tuesday. Collins told media earlier in the week he had
no issues with the decision and Quinn said the move was due to a crowded depth chart and was intended to get as many repetitions for as many players as possible.
“It’s just a coaches’ decision,” Collins said Wednesday. “He’s trying to get the younger guys ready. It’s a situation that I’ve kind of dealt with before.
“I don’t have to practice with the first team all the time. I just have to get everybody else ready and make sure I get the mental reps. Try to help the team the best I can.”
Collins worked out with the team Sunday before the suspension was announced. But the disciplinary action cast doubt on his future with the Falcons.
Although he can take part in all preseason practices as well as exhibition games, Collins will not be eligible to rejoin the team once the regular season starts until a Nov. 26 game with Tampa Bay, when nearly two-thirds of the schedule will have been completed.
An important component to the Falcons defense last season after All-Pro cornerback Desmond Trufant was injured and lost for the year, Collins made six starts in his place and was credited with a team-high 10 tackles in Super Bowl LI.
With a rare combination of speed and size for a cornerback (6-foot-2, 198 pounds), Collins’ absence will be felt in a secondary that is striving to improve after ranking 28th in the league last year in passing yards allowed. Playing just eight games last season, Collins finished with 31 tackles, two interceptions and 10 passes defended.
Even though Collins admitted to flunking drug tests while at LSU, the Falcons drafted him in the second round in 2015 and signed him to a four-year contract worth $5,427,835 with a $2,207,516 signing bonus.
He was set to make $928,440 this year and $1,175,159 next season in the final year of his contract.
Should he fail another NFL-mandated test, Collins would be subject to a twoyear suspension.