Ex-Tommie Ryan Collins makes NFL debut

December 21, 1999
Former St. Thomas All-American tight end Ryan Collins, now of the Baltimore Ravens, made his NFL debut in the 41-14 win over Tennessee on Dec. 5, then made his first NFL start in the Dec. 12 31-24 win at Pittsburgh. He started again in the Dec. 19 win over New Orleans and made his first NFL reception, a 21-yarder.

Collins was activated from the practice squad Dec. 3. Two of the Ravens' four tight ends have been injured, including starter A.J. Ofodile, so Collins should see a lot of minutes the final two games.

The Ravens climbed to 7-7 on the season and are clinging to remote wild-card playoff hopes. They play Cincinnati Dec. 26 and New England Jan. 2.

Collins was signed to the Ravens practice squad in early October after being released by the Cleveland Browns, who had signed him as a free agent last spring. Collins suffered shoulder injury in preseason but still made the Browns' 53-man roster. He wasn't active in their first three games and was eventually released.

Collins, 6-6, 265, spent all of last season on the Vikings' practice squad where he was quite familiar with Ravens head coach Brian Billick.