Linebacker Jamie Collins, offensive lineman Bill Murray elevated from practice squad ahead of Patriots-Bears

Update 10/24/2022: LB Jamie Collins, OL Bill Murray elevated from practice squad for Patriots-Bears

The New England Patriots have officially elevated two players from their practice squad for the upcoming game against the Chicago Bears. Linebacker Jamie Collins, whose elevation was already reported earlier on Monday, will be joined on the game-day roster by offensive lineman Bill Murray.

Whereas Collins is set to appear in his 132nd NFL game, Murray has no regular season experience.

An undrafted free agent, who arrived in New England in 2020, the William & Mary product started his season as a depth option at defensive tackle before moving to the interior offensive line this summer. With guard Michael Onwenu (ankle) and offensive tackle Isaiah Wynn (shoulder) both questionable to play versus the Bears, the 25-year-old offers additional depth up front.

Meanwhile, third-string quarterback Garrett Gilbert was not elevated. Gilbert backed up Bailey Zappe the last two weeks, but with starting quarterback Mac Jones set to return his services on the game-day roster are no longer needed.

Original story 10/24/2022: Report: Patriots to elevate linebacker Jamie Collins to game-day roster against Bears

Jamie Collins is set to make his 2022 debut on Monday night. According to a report by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the New England Patriots will elevate the veteran linebacker from the practice squad to the game-day roster for the game against the Chicago Bears.

This will be Collins’ first such elevation, meaning he has two more left this season. Once those have been used as well, he will need to be signed to the 53-man roster if the Patriots want to use him in any future games as well.

As for Collins, Monday’s game will add another chapter to his career in the NFL — one that includes 131 in-game appearances so far.

A second-round draft pick by the Patriots in 2013, he developed into one of the NFL’s most versatile linebackers and a starting member of New England’s defense over the next few years. However, he was traded to the Cleveland Browns midway through the 2016 season.

He spent two-and-a-half years with the Browns but was released in 2019, paving the way for a return to New England. Following a successful one-year stint with his former team, Collins left again; he joined the Detroit Lions on a three-year free agency deal but early in his second season was cut again. Collins eventually re-signed with the Patriots once more, spending the remainder of the 2021 season in New England.

His contract with the team expired in March 2022, and he remained on the open market for almost five months. In early October, New England signed him to its practice squad; now, the team will give him his first game action in what will be his 86th total game as a Patriot.

The Patriots entered Monday with 12 players listed as questionable on their injury report, including a pair of linebackers: Josh Uche and Anfernee Jennings are not guaranteed to suit up due to hamstring and calf issues, respectively.

New England’s game against the Bears will be kicked off at 8:15 p.m. ET on Monday. Inactives will be released 90 minutes before the contest.