New York Giants safety Landon Collins is eligible to play in his first NFL game since Dec. 21, and Houston Texans linebacker Christian Harris is in line to play in his first NFL game ever on Sunday.
Collins and Harris were among the five players from Alabama high schools and colleges who weren’t eligible to play in Sunday’s games until NFL transactions on Saturday. The players involved included:
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· Cornerback Anthony Averett (Alabama) was restored to the active roster by the Las Vegas Raiders. Averett broke his right thumb in Las Vegas’ season-opening game on Sept. 11 and missed four games on injured reserve. He returned to practice on Wednesday and is ready to resume his fifth NFL season when the Raiders play the Texans on Sunday.
· Safety Landon Collins (Alabama) was elevated from the practice squad by the New York Giants. Each NFL team is allowed to elevate two practice-squad members to active status for each game. A Pro Bowler for the Giants in three of his first four seasons, Collins left for Washington’s six-year, $84 million contract in 2019. Released by the Commanders on March 16, Collins signed with New York’s practice squad on Oct. 7.
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· Linebacker Christian Harris (Harris) was restored to the active roster by the Texans. A third-round draft pick on April 29, Harris missed Houston’s first five games of the season because of a hamstring injury. He returned to practice on Oct. 5.
· Cornerback Tae Hayes (Decatur) was elevated from the practice squad by the Carolina Panthers for the second straight week. A member of the Birmingham Stallions’ 2022 USFL championship team, Hayes made his 2022 NFL debut last week as a practice-squad elevation. In Carolina’s 24-10 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Hayes was on the field for 17 defensive snaps and four special-teams plays and made one tackle.
· Safety Nolan Turner (Vestavia Hills) was elevated from the practice squad by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the second straight week. The undrafted rookie made his NFL debut last week as a practice-squad elevation. Turner was on the field for 14 special-teams plays in the Bucs’ 20-18 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.
