Seattle Seahawks rookie defensive end L.J. Collier may not miss the start of the regular season after all.
According to NFL Insider Ian Rapoport, the injury Collier sustained last week is actually on the top of his foot, a rare injury but one that may only cause him to miss 3-4 weeks – and could make him ready for Week 1 against the Bengals.
Collier was carted off the field at training camp last Tuesday, and reports that he suffered an ankle sprain had many believing he would not be ready for the start of the regular season.
Collier was taken in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft by the Seahawks. He projects as a Michael Bennett-style defensive lineman, capable of playing outside and inside.
He is expected to be a big part of Seattle’s pass rush this season, a unit that lost Frank Clark and Dion Jordan from last year and will be without Jarran Reed for the first six games of the 2019 season after he was suspended by the NFL for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.
Even if Collier’s ankle is ready to go by Week 1, missing the entire preseason will definitely limit his ability to contribute for Seattle right away. Rashaad Penny suffered an injury at a similar time last year, and it took him a while to get going last season.
Fans will hope that a similar fate does not await Collier, as his presence up front will be vital for the Seahawks this year.
