Jasper Collins claimed by Bengals after being waived by Steelers

The Cincinnati Bengals have claimed wide receiver Jasper Collins off of waivers Thursday. Collins was previously waived by the Pittsburgh Steelers. This leaves their roster full with 90 players signed.

A local product from Mount Union, Collins was actually rated as a sixth-seventh round prospect coming into the 2013 NFL draft. He even played in the 2013 East-West Shrine Game.

In his last college football season, he played in 15 games and led the Ohio Athletic Conference in yards per game (112.9), receptions (92), receiving yards (1,694) and receiving touchdowns (22). He was named first-team All-OAC for his efforts.

After going undrafted, the Miami Dolphins signed him as an undrafted free agent. After suffering a hamstring injury in training camp, Collins was waived by the Dolphins, and once he cleared waivers, he was placed on injured reserve.

On August 3, 2013, he was released with an injury settlement, and the Cleveland Browns later signed him to their practice squad. He was eventually waived, and later signed by Pittsburgh following the season to a Reserve/Future contract and joined the Steelers roster on Feb. 3.

The Steelers waived Collins this week in order to make room to sign undrafted free agent C.J. Goodwin Wednesday, a wide receiver out of California (Pa.) University.

This is an interesting move, as it was believed that the Bengals were holding that final roster spot to sign tight end Alex Smith. They still could do so easily and cut someone from the roster.