Collier has been out since Week 2 with a knee injury.

The Arizona Cardinals could have some defensive line reinforcements soon. On Wednesday, they designated defensive lineman L.J. Collier to return from injured reserve. That move opened a 21-day window allowing him to participate in practice.

Getting designated to return means that he must be activated during or at the conclusion of the 21-day window or revert to IR for the rest of the season.

Collier injured his knee in Week 2 against the Carolina Panthers. He has one tackle in two games this season.

Last season, he had a career season. In 17 games with 15 starts, he had 29 tackles, 3.5 sacks, four tackles for loss and six quarterback hits. They were career-high marks in games, tackles and sacks, and he tied his career-high in tackles for loss.

In his third season with the Cardinals, he has been unlucky with injuries. He played in just one game in 2023, losing the rest of his season to a torn biceps. He played in all 17 games last season and missed 10 games after two games this year.

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Former Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Eku Leota is signing with the Arizona Cardinals just one week after he was cut by the New Orleans Saints.

Leota played in three games for the Saints this season. The Steelers let go of Leota during final cut downs in August despite having a standout preseason for the team.

A native of Asheville, North Carolina, Leota was an undrafted free agent in the 2023 NFL Draft. He made the practice squad for the Panthers to start the year before being elevated in November. The 6-foot-3 linebacker can play both inside and outside but had stood out as an edge rusher for the Steelers during the preseason.

Leota played for the Auburn Tigers and Northwestern Wildcats during his college career, and lost most of his final collegiate season with a torn pectoral muscle. He had 7.5 sacks in his first season with the Tigers.

In a crowded room, Leota still flashed and was able to separate himself enough to get noticed by other teams, and now, get a spot on an active gameday roster.

The Steelers, meanwhile, have lots of talent in their outside linebacker room and have four players they are comfortable with right now, which left Leota on the outside looking in.