 Collins with the New Orleans Saints (2013) | |||||||||||||
| No. 45 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Fullback | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | March 3, 1986 San Juan Capistrano, California, U.S. | ||||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 255 lb (116 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Mission Viejo (Mission Viejo, California) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Washington State | ||||||||||||
| Undrafted: | 2008 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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| Player stats at NFL.com | |||||||||||||
Jedidiah Gabriel "Jed" Collins (born March 3, 1986) is a former American football fullback. He was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2008. After playing college football at Washington State, he played three seasons for the New Orleans Saints, and he has also been a member of the Chicago Bears, Kansas City Chiefs, Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns and Tennessee Titans.
Collins was a two-sport letterman (football and basketball) at Mission Viejo High School in Mission Viejo, California. One of his teammates on both the football and basketball teams was future NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez. He was recruited to Washington State as a linebacker but played primarily at tight end, setting a school record in 2007 for most catches by a tight end.[1][2]
Collins was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent following the 2008 NFL Draft. He was waived during final cuts, but was re-signed to the team's practice squad on September 3, 2008. He was released from the practice squad on October 21.
Collins was signed to the Chicago Bears' practice squad on October 28, 2008, but was released on November 24.
On November 26, 2008, Collins was signed by the Cleveland Browns. He was a member of the active roster for two games before he was waived and re-signed to the team's practice squad on December 11. He was not re-signed by the Browns following the 2008 season.
On January 8, 2009, Collins signed a two-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs. However, he was waived during final roster cuts on September 4.
On November 4, 2009, Collins was signed to the Arizona Cardinals' practice squad. He was released on November 24.
On December 2, 2009, Collins re-signed to the Browns' practice squad, and was re-signed after the conclusion of the 2009 season on January 7, 2010. He was waived by the Browns prior to the start of training camp on June 15.
Collins would sign with the Tennessee Titans on August 6, 2010,[3] but was waived during final cuts on September 4.
Collins signed with the New Orleans Saints' practice squad on September 23, 2010. The Saints at the time, were the defending Super Bowl champions. After spending the entire 2010 season on their practice squad, starting fullback Heath Evans retired, and Collins became the Saints' starter. In his first season as a starter, the Saints' yards-per-carry average went from 22nd in the NFL in 2010 to fourth in the league in 2011, and Collins would be rated by as the second best fullback that season.[4] He also served as the Saints' backup long snapper behind Justin Drescher.
On March 19, 2014, Collins signed a one-year deal with the Detroit Lions, where his offensive coordinator was former Saints coach Joe Lombardi.[5]
On March 12, 2015, Collins signed a one-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys.[6] Collins was cut on May 18 so the Cowboys could re-acquire fullback Tyler Clutts.
