Collins was released by the Bears on Sunday, ESPNChicago.com reports. After suffering a season-ending ACL tear in 2013, Collins didn't look like the same player in training camp. He's shown some disruption ability in the interior line when healthy in the past, so perhaps with some more time off to recover, he could reemerge as a rotational player at defensive tackle for some organization.

Bears DT Nate Collins (ACL) has been granted full medical clearance. Collins went down in Week 5. "I didn't have to take it easy," Collins said after Tuesday's practice. "I'm really just trying to go as hard as I can so I know that I'm ready." Collins will compete for a reserve role in training camp.

Bears re-signed DT Nate Collins to a one-year contract. Collins, 26, was a useful, gap-shooting interior reserve before blowing out his left ACL last October. He should be healthy for training camp. Even with Chicago thin on the defensive line, Collins shouldn't be a candidate to start.

Bears placed DT Nate Collins on injured reserve with a torn left ACL, ending his season. Collins suffered the injury in last week's loss to the Saints. The Bears will go with some combination of Landon Cohen, Zach Minter, and Corey Wootton to replace him. DT Christian Tupou has been promoted from the practice squad to take his spot on the active roster.

Bears DT Nate Collins has been diagnosed with a torn left ACL, and is out for the season.

Bears DT Nate Collines exited Sunday's Week 5 game against the Saints with an apparent left knee injury. Collins was jostling with a New Orleans offensive lineman when his left knee appeared to give out. The Bears have already lost DT Henry Melton for the season to a torn ACL. Collins was playing every snap in Melton's place.

Bears re-signed DT Nate Collins to a one-year contract. A restricted free agent, Collins wasn't tendered a contract. That means he should be re-signing for less than the "low" tender of $1.32 million. Active only nine times in 2012, Collins played 247 snaps. He'll fight for a roster spot in camp.

The Bears will not tender restricted free agent DT Nate Collins. Collins is not ruling out a return to Chicago, though. "Absolutely there is a chance I will be back," Collins said. "I think that they're going to offer me a one-year minimum (contract) again. I'm going to weigh my options over the next few days, see if someone else wants to offer a multi-year (deal)." He could easily be back.

"Indications are" the Bears will tender a contract to restricted free agent DT Nate Collins. According to beat writer Brad Biggs, Collins will be tendered at the original-round level, which comes with a $1.33 million price tag. Collins was active just nine times in 2012, playing 247 snaps and tallying 11 tackles.

Bears declared DT Nate Collins active for Sunday's game against the Panthers. Collins looked good during training camp and preseason games, but this is the first time he will be active on game day this season. The Bears declared WR Alshon Jeffery, WR Dane Sanzenbacher, G Edwin Williams, DT Matt Toeaina, TE Brody Eldridge, DT Amobi Okoye, and DE Cheta Ozougwu inactive for Week 8 against the Panthers.