Collins (neck) has no injury designation ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Panthers, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports. Collins upgraded to full practice Friday after opening the week with consecutive limited sessions due to a neck injury, so it appears he's moved past the issue in time to suit up Sunday. The Tulsa product has recorded 49 total tackles, including 4.0 sacks, over 14 games this season and is expected to serve as one of Arizona's top edge rushers in Week 16.
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Status
ACTIVELatest Zaven Collins news
Team
Arizona Cardinals
Birthdate
5/19/1999 (25)
Status
Active
HT/WT
6'4", 260 lbs
Draft Info
2021: Rd 1; Pk (ARI)
Birthplace
Tulsa, OK, USA
Position
OLB
College
Tulsa
Experience
4 seasons
Career History
Arizona Cardinals
2021-Present
(4 seasons)
Collins (neck) has no injury designation ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Panthers, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports. Collins upgraded to full practice Friday after opening the week with consecutive limited sessions due to a neck injury, so it appears he's moved past the issue in time to suit up Sunday. The Tulsa product has recorded 49 total tackles, including 4.0 sacks, over 14 games this season and is expected to serve as one of Arizona's top edge rushers in Week 16.
Collins (neck) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports. Despite playing 23 defensive snaps and recording three total tackles in Arizona's Week 15 win over New England, Collins appears to have sustained a neck injury. The Tulsa product has yet to miss a game this season and is expected to play through the issue, provided he does not downgrade to no practice participation Thursday or Friday.
Collins recorded six tackles (two solo), including 2.0 sacks and a tackle for a loss, in Sunday's 29-9 win over the Bears. The defensive end also played on more than half of the defensive snaps for the sixth time in nine games this season. Collins has 37 tackles (22 solo), including 3.0 sacks, in 2024.
Collins finished Sunday's 34-28 loss to Buffalo with nine tackles (five solo). Collins tied Mack Wilson for third-most combined tackles on Arizona on Sunday behind Kyzir White (11) and Budda Baker (10). Collins didn't record more than five total tackles in a regular-season game in 2023, and his nine combined tackles in Week 1 tied a career best he set in 2022. The 2021 first-round pick played 40 of the Cardinals' 58 defensive snaps.
Collins and the Cardinals agreed to a two-year, $14 million contract extension Saturday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. The deal includes $11.25 million in guaranteed money. It was somewhat surprising when Arizona didn't pick up Collins' fifth-year option in April, but the defensive end will ultimately stick with the organization for at least two more seasons. Collins transitioned from inside linebacker to the edge ahead of the 2023 campaign and saw his tackle numbers drop dramatically, though he did finish the campaign with a career-high 3.5 sacks. Collins will look to grow in 2024 in his second year as an edge rusher.
The Cardinals have opted not to pick up Collins' fifth-year option, Tyler Drake of ArizonaSports.com reports. This move is somewhat of a surprise, as Collins' started all 33 games he has played the previous two seasons, and he projects to continue starting at defensive end in 2024. He did see his production decrease this past year in the tackle department, dropping from 100 (63) in 2022 to 41 (27 solo) in 2023. The 24-year-old is now heading into a contract year and will look to prove his value accordingly.