AP source: Cowboys OL Collins headed to IR with toe injury
FRISCO, Texas (AP) — A person with knowledge of the injury says Dallas left guard La’el Collins will be placed on injured reserve with a possible return late in the season because of a right toe injury.
Collins left late in the first half of Sunday night’s 31-17 win over Chicago with a toe injury. Speaking to The Associated Press on Monday on condition of anonymity because details of the injury weren’t released, the person said Collins has a ligament injury on his right big toe.
Putting Collins on IR opens a roster spot for the Cowboys while giving Collins a chance to return to practice in six weeks and play in a game after eight weeks.
Dallas played the second half against the Bears without the starting left side of its line. Pro Bowl left tackle Tyron Smith was inactive with a back injury. But Collins’ replacement is former starter Ron Leary, who lost his job to Collins last season.
Receiver Dez Bryant sprained his right knee on his first catch early against the Bears but returned and caught a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. Coach Jason Garrett said there was no update on Bryant’s status.
Houston LT Brown returns to practice, could play Sunday
HOUSTON (AP) — Houston left tackle Duane Brown returned to practice on Monday for the first time since January surgery to repair a torn quadriceps, and coach Bill O’Brien said he could play on Sunday against Tennessee.
Brown was injured in Houston’s regular-season finale last season and hasn’t played since. He’s been a mainstay on the line since he was drafted in the first round in 2008.
O’Brien said after practice that: “He looked good. He’s progressing well.”
Before this season Brown hadn’t missed more than two games in a year since he sat out four in 2010.