Cowboys DT Collins breaks foot, likely needs surgery
Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Maliek Collins broke the fifth metatarsal in his left foot while participating in the team's offseason conditioning program on Thursday, and he likely will require surgery.
His availability for the Sept. 10 season opener is in doubt, multiple media outlets reported.
Collins, 23, had surgery on the same foot in January after playing through a foot sprain for much of the 2017 season, though he managed to start all 16 games. He also battled a similar injury to his right foot during his rookie season.
A third-round pick in 2016, Collins has played in all 32 games through two seasons, starting 30 of them. He had 5.0 sacks in 2016 before tallying 2.5 in 2017. Primarily a 3-technique defensive tackle through his first season and a half, Collins moved to nose tackle after David Irving returned from his suspension midway through last season.
According to multiple reports on Tuesday, the Cowboys brought in former Washington Redskins defensive tackle Terrell McClain for a free agent visit this week. McClain has also met with the Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers since being released by the Washington Redskins on April 30, and ESPN reports he has at least one more visit scheduled.
The Cowboys did not take a defensive tackle in the draft last month, but they did acquire former Oakland Raiders second-round pick Jihad Ward via trade.
Ward, 24, has had two surgeries on his left foot in the last three seasons and also had a procedure on his knee in 2016. He was a healthy scratch for much of last season, appearing in five games (one start) while totaling two tackles and one sack.
--Field Level Media
