Shortly after being ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Football Team safety Landon Collins was placed on injured reserve with a foot injury.
Collins will have to sit out at least three games. With three games remaining in the season, Collins’ season is effectively over, at least for the regular season. He has a chance to return if Washington makes the playoffs.
Collins was injured towards the end of the first half in Tuesday’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. He was assisted to the medical tent. However, returned to the game at the start of the third quarter. Although, he was visibly hobbled.
He finished the game, playing 39 of Washington’s 71 defensive snaps.
Collins had a foot injury that kept him out of Washington’s Week 13 win over the Las Vegas Raiders as well.
Landon Collins was having a breakthrough year
It’s a disappointing end to a breakthrough season for Collins. After struggling his first two years with Washington as a coverage safety, Collins found a fitting role as a hybrid linebacker and safety. Even though Collins was reluctant.
The move came in Week 5 after Collins struggled as back end safety. Washington head coach Ron Rivera called him better suited as a “downhill player.”
Don’t call him a linebacker. But, Collins thrived in the role that is a mixture of Buffalo Nickel, drop-down safety and linebacker. This year was arguably his best and certainly most impactful season in a Washington uniform.
Through 13 games, he had 81 tackles, seven for losses, three sacks, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries.
“The way they’re using me is just the way I love to play,” Collins told Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post earlier this month. “I’m more instinctive coming down downhill, playing toward the box and being able to see things. I’m not always lined up in the box, depending on the formation and the situation we are in, but most of the time I get to be the drop-down safety.”
His re-defined role allowed Washington to deploy three-safety looks with Kamren Curl and Bobby McCain playing traditional safety spots.
Washington is currently 6-8 on the season, one game back for the seventh and last playoff berth in the NFC. However, a COVID-impacted loss against the Eagles Tuesday decreased Washington’s playoff chances greatly. Those chances are more faint with Collins out.
Has Collins played his last game in a Washington uniform?
If Washington falls short of the postseason, Collins’ season ends with some uncertainty for his future, but hope if he stays.
Collins is three years into a six-year, $84 million deal he signed as a free agent after four seasons with the New York Giants.
His first year wasn’t as good as the expectations were with him coming in. His second year in 2020 ended after seven games due to a torn Achilles.
Collins also told the Post he “would love” to stay in Washington and in his new role. The Sean Taylor fanatic, wanted Washington to draft him out of college.
There’s no more guaranteed money in the remainder of his contract. Washington could cut ties with him and gain $6.6 million of cap relief for 2022. Yet, Collins has just found his niche.
Washington’s defense has improved because of it. On the field, he’s a fit for defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio’s system. It’s only a matter if Washington is willing to pay him $12 million and take on a $16.2 million cap hit.
