Jamie Collins Signs Patriots Contract; Won Super Bowl 49 with NE

The New England Patriots announced Monday that they have signed linebacker Jamie Collins to the practice squad.

Mike Reiss of ESPN first reported the two sides were working towards an agreement.

Collins finished last season with New England, which was his third stint with the organization, although he went unsigned during the offseason. He visited the Patriots last month.

The Patriots are looking for reinforcements after falling to 1-3 on the season after Sunday's overtime loss to the Green Bay Packers. Their defense ranks 22nd in the league with 24.5 points allowed per game.

Collins was initially the Patriots' second-round draft pick in 2013 and emerged as a defensive star in 2015, earning a Pro Bowl selection while being named second-team All-Pro. He led the NFL with five forced fumbles that year before playing every snap in the team's Super Bowl XLIX win over the Seattle Seahawks.

The linebacker was surprisingly traded to the Cleveland Browns during the 2016 season and struggled with his new team over two-plus years despite a high-paying contract. He ended up back in New England in 2019, and he regained his form with a career-best seven sacks.

After parts of two seasons with the Detroit Lions, he returned to the Patriots again last year and appeared in 10 games, totaling 20 tackles and one sack.

It's clear head coach Bill Belichick trusts the veteran enough to add him back to the roster as the squad tries to turn things around in 2022.

Collins should rotate with Matt Judon and Jahlani Tavai at linebacker while Raekwon McMillan remains relegated to special teams duties.