Training camp is quickly approaching over the next several days around the NFL where teams will be able to get a fill for their respective rosters. The Dallas Cowboys have put together a stable roster with many familiar faces coming back for the 2018 campaign.
However, the Cowboys will be without one of their starters along the defensive front with defensive tackle Maliek Collins expected to be on the mend over the next few months as he will undergo surgery to repair the fifth metatarsal on his broken foot. (h/t Jeremy Bergman of NFL.com)
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reports Collins will start training camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, but should be back on the field at some point in August.
Although Collins experienced a bit of a drop in terms of production, he was still a stable factor on the defensive line recording 22 total tackles with 2.5 sacks while playing in all 16 games. This marks the third foot surgery in his first two seasons in the league that should raise some level of concern from the Cowboys about his long-term durability.
This should put him on pace to return at some point during the preseason, but there is no guarantee that he will be able to be ready for the regular season opener. If his recovery is any bit delayed than the expected timetable, it could lead to the team leaning on other players to fill his void temporarily such as Brian Price, Jarron Jones, and Dequinton Osbourne possibly stepping into bigger roles.
The Cowboys could also depend more heavily on David Irving to help clog up the middle of the defensive line if Collins is delayed in his recovery by any means. In the meantime, there is still plenty of time for him to work his way back onto the field before next season.
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