Patriots LB Jamie Collins Expected to Return vs. Eagles

Injuries have not been kind to the New England Patriots recently, but finally some good news as star linebacker Jamie Collins is set to return.

Seemingly the entire offensive line, Dion Lewis, Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola, Dont’a Hightower and of course Rob Gronkowski. When it comes to devastating injuries, the New England Patriots have had worse luck than any team in the NFL this season. Finally, the Patriots are starting to see some good news on the injury front as star linebacker Jamie Collins is expected to play Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Collins had become not only a major contributor to a stout Patriots’ defense early in the season, but had really established himself as one of the premier linebackers in the entire NFL. He has been a huge reason for the Patriots defensive success this season, but has missed the last three games with an undisclosed illness.

The Patriots have been a bit mysterious on details surrounding Collins’ absence, but all that really matters is that he has not been on the field, but it appears that he will be back this week.

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With incredible athleticism and natural instincts, Collins is arguably the best coverage linebacker in the entire NFL. He has also shown a strong ability to rush the passer this season, and has drastically improved his ability to make plays against the run. Simply put, Collins can do it all at the linebacker position, and his presence on the defense has obviously been missed.

While the Patriots would love to have Collins back at any time, his return to the team this week is extremely important. With Hightower going down with a knee injury on Sunday night and expected to miss a few games, the Patriots are in trouble at the linebacker position. The combination of Jerod Mayo and Jonathan Freeny simply does not get the job done, as proved by the second half against the Broncos on Sunday night.

As soon as Hightower had to leave the game with an injury, the Broncos were able to do whatever they want in the running game. Freeny and Mayo can be worthwhile contributors if used correctly, but if the Patriots are forced to play both in a huge role, there are going to be some issues.

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Hopefully, the reports are true and Collins is ready to go this week. With his incredible skill-set back in the fold, the Patriots’ defense is unlikely to miss a beat.