Tyler Guyton's injury has forced Jerry Jones to look on the outside for offensive line help. La'el Collins, the veteran offensive tackle, has found his way back to the Dallas Cowboys after brief stints with the Cincinnati Bengals and the Buffalo Bills.
Even though he never made a Pro Bowl during his first stint with Dallas, Collins' blocking ability helped Ezekiel Elliott have some of the best years of his career.
Even though Collins might be looked at as the second option now, he's embracing a new role that the coaches are loving. He's been a mentor to the young bucks at offensive line, including rookie pass rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku. He might not be the full-time starter that he once was, but Collins' presence is still irreplaceable.
Collins acting as a mentor to his young teammates means everything
Reporters were able to catch Collins helping out Ezeiruaku after hours. He also spent some time coaching up rookie offensive lineman Ajani Cornelius after practice, too. This is exactly the type of leadership Dallas needs.
The 32-year-old is proud to be back wearing the star on his helmet. Even though he left on unideal terms when he was released after the 2021 season, that ultimately came down to money and performance. His new leadership role is everything the team needs, especially with Micah Parsons not on the field.
You can tell Collins has been working on himself to get back on the field, as he recently told reporters that he currently weighs 300 pounds. This is quite the loss since he was last listed at 315 pounds.
Collins may not be the three-down bulldog that he once was, but in this league, injuries happen. He is the backup offensive lineman that every team needs, and his story to get back on the field is enough to win over any football fan.
His teammates are rooting for him, and it's pretty clear that when his number gets called, he's going to be ready.