Seattle Seahawks first-round draft pick, defensive end L.J. Collier, was inactive Week 3 against the New Orleans Saints. A healthy scratch, Collier was benched to give Ezekiel Ansah space on the game-day roster to make his debut.
Collier suffered a “rare” ankle sprain early in training camp this summer and all the missed time has factored into the rookie’s development process.
“You can’t establish enough of a routine with a guy to know where he is and how far along he is, and will he respond well,” coach Pete Carroll explained Monday. “That kind of stuff. Tactically and technically, all of that. It does factor in. I don’t think we can’t make it up. He’s right on the edge and I expect him to get right back in there and be playing soon.”
But with Ansah now back in the mix, Collier will have to work and compete with the rest of the group to earn his spot on Sundays.
“Right now, at this early stage, it’ll go back and forth a little bit until he gets enough playing time to establish himself,” Carroll said. “Be a good chance he’ll be involved this week. We’ll see.”
The Seahawks are set to square off against the Arizona Cardinals this Sunday on the road.
