Bengals' La'el Collins hopes to play entire 2023 season coming off injury
As the 2022 NFL season progressed, the Cincinnati Bengals' offensive showed steady improvement. Having all five starters suit up for every game and rarely missing any snaps for the first 15 games was an abnormal blessing of continuity. Eventually, the group fell apart due to injuries, with La'el Collins' torn ACL kickstarting the downfall. According […]
As the 2022 NFL season progressed, the Cincinnati Bengals' offensive showed steady improvement. Having all five starters suit up for every game and rarely missing any snaps for the first 15 games was an abnormal blessing of continuity.
Eventually, the group fell apart due to injuries, with La'el Collins' torn ACL kickstarting the downfall.
According to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com, the ACL was just part of Collins' injury. He ended up tearing his ACL, MCL, and PCL against the New England Patriots on Christmas Eve.
The total damage rivals that of what Joe Burrow suffered back in November of 2020, and Burrow miraculously didn't miss a game the following season. Collins is hoping to do the same and return for Week 1 of the 2023 season.
"[Collins] is vowing to give an Opening Day return a shot. Given his surgery was in mid-January, that's a Herculean task. But at the very least he says he'll be back for the stretch run." – Geoff Hobson on Collins' recovery
Herculean task is an apt description considering the context. Collins is approaching the age of 30 and is about 100 pounds heavier than Burrow, along with the fact that his knees have already been put under ample stress playing offensive line. Nevertheless, Collins is feeling good and optimistic.
"Right on schedule. Everything clicking the right way. No setbacks. No pain. I think I'm in a good place," Collins said of his recovery. "I've felt like I've been one of the best in the game. That comes with a little wear and tear, but the best ones figure out how to play through it."
The Bengals' managing of Collins' health last year went under the radar. Collins would routinely not practice on Wednesdays, giving him an added day off to recover from the previous week and keep tabs on the back injury he dealt with throughout the season. Said injury is also a potential hurdle for Collins' overall recovery, but it's not a problem until it becomes one.
If Collins is able to suit up for the season-opener, it would be a massive win for Cincinnati. The team is currently hoping Jonah Williams changes his mind and revokes his trade request, but they'll still plan on having him compete for that spot if they can't find an ideal trade partner.
Having Collins in the mix would give the Bengals another needed option at right tackle, but the veteran's return is so far from certain. The best they can hope for is he gets to 100% sometime before the playoffs.
