Maliek Collins Injury: Updates on Cowboys DT's Recovery from Foot Surgery

Dallas Cowboys third-round pick and defensive tackle Maliek Collins is expected to be out of action for 10-12 weeks after having surgery on his right foot, according to Todd Archer of ESPN.com.

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Collins "Likely" to Open Camp on Physically Unable to Perform List

Wednesday, June 1

Archer reported that Collins likely won't return to the team until late in training camp or early in the regular season, depending on his recovery, which means he's a prime candidate for the PUP list.

He suffered the injury during organized team activities last week. The surgery required "a screw inserted into the foot to stabilize the joint, plus a bone graft."

Collins, 21, registered 86 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks and one forced fumble in three years at Nebraska.

His loss is another blow to a Dallas defense that will be heading into the season with a lot of question marks. Second-round pick Jaylon Smith probably won't play at all this season, while Randy Gregory will open up the 2016 campaign with a four-game suspension and Demarcus Lawrence is facing the possibility of the same punishment after failing another drug test.

According to Archer, the hope was that the selection of Collins would allow the team to move Tyrone Crawford outside in the absence of Gregory and Lawrence. Instead, the team's top three options on the interior of the defensive line are now Crawford, Cedric Thornton and Terrell McClain, though Crawford may be asked to rotate between defensive end and tackle early in the season.

A healthy Collins would provide the Cowboys with a lot more options along the defensive line. Now, however, the Cowboys have to prepare for the possibility that he won't be available to start the regular season, and if he is, he will do so without the benefit of a full summer of workouts and training camps.

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