Collins (eye) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Collins was poked in the eye in the Week 3 win over Dallas but is good to go for this week's game against the 49ers. The No. 16 overall pick of the 2021 Draft, Collins has recorded seven tackles, 1.5 sacks, one interception, one fumble recovery and one pass breakup through three contests.
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Cardinals' Zaven Collins: Working with edge rushers
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Collins has been lining up as an edge rusher during minicamp practices, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Collins primarily played inside linebacker during his first two NFL season. Head coach Jonathan Gannon said a decision hasn't been made whether the 23-year-old will continue to line up on the edge come the start of the regular season, but where on defense Collins plays will be worth tracking throughout the spring and summer.
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Cardinals' Zaven Collins: Scores first career touchdown
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Collins recorded seven tackles, including a tackle for loss, and a pick-six during Sunday's 31-21 defeat to the Seahawks.
Collins has been consistent on the tackle front in his second pro campaign, hovering between four and nine per week en route to 61 through nine games. Aside from a two-sack Week 6, though, he didn't make much of an impact in box scores elsewhere until his acrobatic interception of Seattle quarterback Geno Smith on Sunday that he returned 30 yards to the house. The Cardinals expect to be without leading tackler Budda Baker for a few weeks due to a high-ankle sprain, so Collins may have elevated tackle totals as long as the former is sidelined.
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Cardinals' Zaven Collins: Totals five tackles Sunday
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Collins accrued five tackles and one pass defense during Sunday's 34-26 loss in Minnesota.
Through eight games, Collins has reached five tackles on seven occasions, helping him rank second on the Cardinals in tackles (54) behind Budda Baker (60). Aside from a two-sack Week 6 in Seattle, though, Collins doesn't have much else on his overall ledger this season. With another matchup against the Seahawks on tap Sunday, he'll look to get after Seattle quarterback Geno Smith yet again.
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Cardinals' Zaven Collins: Ready for Thursday Night Football
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Collins (shoulder) doesn't have a designation for Thursday's contest versus the Saints, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
After being listed as limited on Monday's practice estimate, Collins had a cap on his reps at Tuesday's session and handled every rep at Wednesday's walkthrough. With his availability confirmed ahead of Thursday, he'll again serve as one of Arizona's top producers of tackles along with safeties Budda Baker and Jalen Thompson (hamstring, questionable), assuming the latter is active.
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Cardinals' Zaven Collins: Still dealing with shoulder injury
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Collins (shoulder) was listed as limited on Monday's estimated practice report, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
During Sunday's 19-9 loss in Seattle, Collins went off for nine tackles, including two sacks, and he now ranks second on the Cards in terms of tackles (41) behind safety Budda Baker (45) through six games. Collins has been dealing with a shoulder issue since a Week 3 matchup against the Rams, but he's proceeded to earn 100 percent of the defensive snaps in each of the team's last three contests. He'll look to ditch his injury designation ahead of Thursday's outing against the Saints.
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Cardinals' Zaven Collins: Cleared for Week 5
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Collins doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's matchup against the Eagles, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Collins logged back-to-back limited practices Wednesday and Thursday due to a a shoulder issue but returned to full participation Friday, putting him in line to suit up in Week 5. The second-year linebacker has recorded 27 tackles and one forced fumble while playing nearly every defensive snap across the first four games of the season.
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Cardinals' Zaven Collins: Stays limited at practice
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Collins (shoulder) was limited at Wednesday's practice, Tyler Drake of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Collins had a cap on his practice reps during Week 4 prep, but he still suited up this past Sunday in Carolina and paced the Cardinals in tackles with eight. Through four games, he ranks fifth on the team in defensive snap share (92.9 percent), while his most-recent performance has pushed him to a close third in tackles (27) behind safeties Budda Baker (32) and Jalen Thompson (28). Collins will look to get rid of his designation for a Week 5 matchup with the Eagles.
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Cardinals' Zaven Collins: Will play
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Collins (shoulder) will play Sunday against the Panthers.
Collins was limited in practice all week after suffering the injury in a Week 3 loss to the Rams. He should start alongside Isaiah Simmons at inside linebacker.
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Cardinals' Zaven Collins: Dealing with shoulder injury
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Collins is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Rams due to a shoulder injury, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.
Collins racked up four solo tackles in the first half of Sunday's matchup, but he sustained a shoulder injury in the second half. If he's unable to return, Nick Vigil will likely handle an increased role for Arizona.
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Cardinals' Zaven Collins: Ruled out Thursday
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Collins has been downgraded from questionable to out after suffering a shoulder injury in Thursday's game against the Packers.
Collins was hurt during a running play late in the first quarter and required assistance getting off the field. It's unclear how serious the injury may be, but he'll miss the rest of the team's Week 8 matchup. Prior to his exit, Collins did not record a stat.
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Cardinals' Zaven Collins: Facing charges after arrest
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Collins was arrested and charged Sunday for excessive speed and reckless driving, according to the Scottsdale (Ariz.) Police Department.
Collins was spotted going 76 mph in a 35-mph zone, precipitating a traffic stop. He later was released and now awaits trial on a charge that is deemed to be a Class 2 misdemeanor and could result in jail time. However the case breaks, the Cardinals and the NFL will wait for the legal process to play out before levying any sort of punishment. In the meantime, Collins will continue to prepare for his rookie campaign after the Cardinals selected him 16th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft to serve as the team's starting Mike linebacker.
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Cardinals' Zaven Collins: Inside track to starting job
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Collins is expected to work as the Cardinals' starting MIKE linebacker, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Accordingly, the team has given veteran middle linebacker Jordan Hicks permission to seek a trade, following back-to-back seasons with 16 starts and triple-digit tackles. Collins and Isaiah Simmons, the Cardinals' first-round picks from the past two springs, are expected to be the starting inside linebackers come Week 1. Collins has the build of an edge rusher at 6-foot-5, 259 pounds, but he's apparently more comfortable playing as an off-ball linebacker. In three seasons at Tulsa, the No. 16 overall pick recorded 236 tackles, 7.5 sacks and five interceptions.
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Cardinals' Zaven Collins: Tulsa LB heads to Arizona
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The Cardinals selected Collins in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, 16th overall.
Collins is a small-school defender but a big-time athlete. A hulking linebacker figure at 6-foot-5, 259, Collins logged a 4.66-second 40 to go with a 35-inch vertical and 122-inch broad jump. With safety-like athleticism on a defensive end-like frame, Collins offers the schematic versatility ideal for amoeba fronts, and he should combine with Jordan Hicks and Isaiah Simmons to form one of the league's most dangerous linebacker rotations.
