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The Patriots had a hard time stopping the run last Sunday night after Dont’a Hightower was forced out of the game with a knee injury.

Jamie Collins was already sidelined with the illness that’s kept him from playing the last four weeks and the Broncos took advantage to the tune of 136 yards on 17 carries once Hightower joined him on the shelf. Hightower reportedly has a sprained MCL, so he may not be able to go against the Eagles this week but Collins’s health is moving in the right direction.

Collins returned to practice last Friday for the first time since becoming ill and Ben Volin of the Boston Globe reports that the linebacker plans to play this week.

Collins has been a major part of the Patriots’ defense against both the run and pass this season, making 51 tackles and sacking quarterbacks 4.5 times while also forcing three fumbles. New England would welcome that kind of production back under any circumstances, but they’ll be especially happy to see him if Hightower isn’t given a green light.