IRVING, Texas – La’el Collins is looking forward to Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints.

He might not start at left guard with Ronald Leary ready to return from a groin injury, and if the Cowboys choose to stick with seven offensive linemen on the 46-man roster, there is a chance he could be inactive.

But it’s a homecoming for Collins, who grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and played at LSU. The calls for tickets came in quickly, but he had a limit on what he would buy.

“I just put in a request for about 10,” Collins said. “It’s not a lot. That’s a good amount.”

There was a chance every week could have been a homecoming for Collins. After he went undrafted because of circumstances out of his control, Collins and his agent had conversations with the Saints, among other teams.

“I think he was looking forward to an opportunity further away from home than close to home, and I understand that,” Saints coach Sean Payton said. “I had several conversations, and we did our work and research on it. I think he found a good fit.”

Collins, however, said his decision to leave Louisiana had nothing to do with his questioning in the death of a former girlfriend just six days before the draft.

“Definitely a big-time decision for me as far as where I want to spend my career, things I want to do,” Collins said. “I looked at it that way. Definitely wasn’t an emotional decision. More of a business decision.”

Collins was recruited by the Cowboys at the Highland Park home of owner and general manager Jerry Jones. Head coach Jason Garrett and offensive line coach Frank Pollack were there. Tony Romo and Jason Witten were there. So were Tyron Smith, who hosted Collins on a recruiting visit to Southern Cal years earlier, Travis Frederick and Zack Martin.

A day later, Collins had a three-year, fully guaranteed contract.

“I considered pretty much every team, went through it, looked at it,” Collins said. “But I felt like the best fit for me just looking at offensive linemen, looking at guys I can see I can go in and get better was here, and I felt like it’s a great fit for me, and I’m happy I’m here.”