The NFL suspended Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman La’el Collins five games without pay Friday for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
NFL Network reported that Collins was suspended for missing drug tests.
Collins, 28, missed all of last season with a hip injury that required surgery. He started at right tackle in Thursday night’s season-opening 31-29 road loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Collins can return to the active roster on Oct. 18, the day after the Cowboys’ Week 6 game at New England. The Cowboys have a bye in Week 7, so he will not be eligible to play again until the Week 8 contest at Minnesota on Oct. 31.
Ty Nsekhe and Terence Steele are the primary backups at left and right tackle, respectively.
Collins signed a five-year, $50 million contract extension in September 2019. Undrafted out of LSU in 2015, he has started 62 of his 63 games with the Cowboys.
–Field Level Media