Bears Sign Former Steelers Tackle

The Chicago Bears are signing former Steelers offensive lineman Aviante Collins on a reserve/future contract, the team announced in its wave of transactions.

Collins spent time in Pittsburgh during 2021 for training camp but was quickly released after failing to make the roster cut. After that, he would find another home with the Dallas Cowboys and spend two seasons with that group before heading to the Bears early in 2023.

The 6-foot-4, 292-pound lineman worked primarily on the third team for the Steelers, despite several injuries to starters on the offensive line.

Collins has played in eight career NFL games, and can play guard and tackle, though he worked primarily at tackle with the Steelers. He has continued to garner some looks due to his veteran savvy and versatility.

Collins signed with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2017 and played in three games with Minnesota in 2017 and two more in 2019. He missed all of the 2018 season with an elbow injury suffered in practice in early September. He played in 49 games over five seasons with TCU. And he was also a member of the school’s track and field team as a shot-putter.

Now, Collins will spend his eighth season in the NFL with the Bears, looking to entrench himself into that roster’s room either on the interior or at tackle.