FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The pressure Atlanta Falcons cornerback Jalen Collins feels going into his 2016 debut Sunday has nothing to do with being last year's second-round draft pick.
It has everything to do with Collins wanting to make amends for the misstep that led to him being away from the team to begin the season. The second-year player from LSU was suspended for the first four games after violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances. Collins was then inactive the past two weeks as the coaches elected to stick with the same group of special-teamers. He'll play Sunday against the visiting San Diego Chargers, with reserve cornerback/special-teamer C.J. Goodwin ruled out as a result of a hamstring injury.
"The only pressure for me is for me to go out there and perform for my team," Collins said. "I owe it to them guys. I made a mistake, and I just have to go out there and get back to it."
Collins never disclosed what substance led to the suspension. He trained at a local gym before being reinstated.
Falcons coach Dan Quinn commended Collins for taking ownership of the mistake and expressing an obligation to his teammates.
"I love that he has that mindset," Quinn said. "Like he's so committed to his brothers on the team. ... 'Man, I want to show I want to help.' The first way he's helped is over the last few weeks of going for it in practice, standing up battling for it. I knew he was ready. He looked fit coming in.
"Sometimes when you're guy that's got something to prove, that could be a dangerous person."
Collins, who struggled as a rookie last season while starting two games, will fill a role outside as a gunner on special teams Sunday. He seems unlikely to get much time on defense unless starting cornerback Robert Alford continues to have issues with penalties. Collins has yet to display the type of consistency and ball skills that made him a higher draft pick and even, in some eyes, a first-round talent.
"He’ll stay mostly outside, but the times that we match that’s when you see the other guys go inside," Quinn said of Collins' role on defense. "You’ve seen Desmond Trufant and Robert Alford inside, so on times that we’ve matched some people you would see Jalen inside, but we’d like to keep him outside."
Collins didn't sound too consumed about what role he'll play.
"Those guys [Trufant, Alford and nickel back Brian Poole] have been doing a great job," Collins said. "As far as me, I'm just grateful to be back. Whatever they need me to do, I'm going to do it. I've just got to come back ready."