Jalen Collins Suspended 4 Games: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

Atlanta Falcons cornerback Jalen Collins has been suspended without pay for the first four games of the 2016 regular season after violating the NFL's performance-enhancing-substance policy, the team announced Friday. 

"We are disappointed to hear the news regarding Jalen today," Falcons head coach Dan Quinn said in a team statement. "I have already spoken to Jalen about this, and I have no doubt this will be something that he will learn from."

Although Collins will not be active for the first four games of the regular season, the team's statement confirmed the 23-year-old will be allowed to participate in preseason games and offseason practices. 

This isn't the first time Collins has encountered trouble for his use of substances. According to ESPN.com's Vaughn McClure, Collins failed "multiple drug tests" during his time with the LSU Tigers and was flagged by two teams during the predraft process as a result of his history of marijuana use. 

A 2015 second-round pick, Collins appeared in all 16 games as a rookie and made two starts. However, he failed to show up in the box score regularly. Collins finished the 2015 campaign with 11 tackles and made his biggest contributions on special teams. He wound up finishing the regular season with five special teams tackles—good for third among Falcons players.

"Of course you're frustrated," Collins said of his rookie season in January, per McClure. "I felt I could have done better. I really didn't play to the best of my ability throughout the whole season. Definitely a little frustrated, but I know it's a process. I'm just going to grind this offseason."

Now that Collins is suspended for the season's first four games, Atlanta will need to explore avenues through which it can pad its depth at cornerback. Robert Alford and Desmond Trufant are slotted in as the team's starters, but without Collins, free-agent signee DeMarcus Van Dyke is all Atlanta has to show for depth in terms of boundary protection.

With the NFL draft approaching, the Falcons would be wise to hone in on cornerbacks who can provide some necessary insurance.