Throughout his seven-year run with the Dallas Cowboys, running back Ezekiel Elliott had some great linemen blocking for him.
Of course, there's the handful of all-pro selections in Zack Martin , Tyron Smith and Travis Frederick. But there's also La'el Collins, who despite never earning a Pro Bowl nod, was a fixture on the Cowboys' offensive line from 2015 to 2021. Throughout that time, Collins and Elliott became quite close with each other and are still friends to this day.
Now, though, both players have moved on from Dallas. Elliott is with the New England Patriots, while Collins is a free agent after his release from the Cincinnati Bengals on Tuesday. With Collins on the market again, Elliott is very interested in a reunion with his close friend and former teammate.
“I’d love to see LC here,” Elliott told reporters. “LC is one of my best friends. We’re super close. It’d be great to get him up here.”
Beyond just the sentimental value, Elliott and the Patriots have a very good reason for being interested in Collins. Their offensive line is in tatters, with all five starters on Thursday's injury report. With the unit already being a major question mark, the injury issues have driven them to start looking around.
Collins is currently dealing with injury himself, as he began the season on the Bengals' PUP list before his release. If healthy, though, he could still be a quality starting option for New England. The LSU product has started 86 of the 89 games he has played in the NFL, and he has been relatively effective in that time.
At the very least, the Patriots signing Collins would make Elliott very happy.
“LC, he’s a load,” Elliott said. “He loves to get his hands on people. He’s going to punch. He’s going to strike the heck out of you. He’s a vet.”
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