Atlanta Falcons cornerback Jalen Collins has been suspended without pay for the first 10 games of the season without pay for violation of the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances, the Falcons announced on Sunday afternoon.
This marks the second straight suspension for Collins, who sat out the first four games of last season also for flunking a PED test.
“We are extremely disappointed that for the second straight season, we are dealing with a suspension for Jalen,” Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said in a statement. “Such are the consequences when certain choices are made. Our decisions going forward will be based on what (coach Dan Quinn) and I feel is best for the team.”
Collins did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The suspension closed out a curious week for the third-year pro from LSU.
Due to what was said to be a coaching decision, Collins had dropped to working with the third-team defense in training camp since Tuesday. Collins told media earlier in the week he had no issues with the decision and coach Dan Quinn said the move was due to a crowded depth chart and its intent was to get as many repetitions for as many players as possible.
“It’s just a coaches’ decision,” Collins said on Wednesday. “He’s trying to get the younger guys ready. It’s a situation that I’ve kind of dealt with before. I don’t have to practice with the first team all the time. I just have to get everybody else ready and make sure I get the mental reps. Try to help the team the best I can.”
Collins worked out with the team Sunday before the suspension was announced, but the discipline casts doubt on his future with the reigning NFC Champions.
Although he is allowed to take part in all preseason practices as well as exhibition games, Collins will not be eligible to rejoin the team once the regular season starts until Nov. 26 when the Falcons play Tampa Bay, when nearly two-thirds of the schedule will have been completed.
An important part of the Falcons defense last season after All-Pro cornerback Desmond Trufant suffered a season-ending shoulder injury, Collins made six starts in Trufant’s place and was credited with a team-high 10 tackles in Super Bowl LI. A rare combination of speed and size (6-foot-2, 198 pounds) for a cornerback, his absence will be felt in a secondary that is striving to improve after ranking 28th in the league last year in passing yards allowed.
Playing just eight games last year, he finished with 31 tackles, two interceptions and 10 passes defended.
Even though Collins admitted to flunking drugs tests while at LSU, the Falcons drafted him in the second round in 2015 and signed him to a four-year contract worth $5,427,835 with a $2,207,516 signing bonus. Collins was set to make $928,440 this year, but will forfeit $546,141 due to his suspension, according to ESPN.
He is due to make $1,175,159 next season in the final year of his contract.
Should he fail another NFL-mandated test, Collins would be subject to a two-year suspension.
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