Maliek Collins finds 'blessing' in 'long journey' back on field with Browns
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BEREA ― Maliek Collins had waited a long time to be back out on the field with his Browns defensive teammates.
The veteran defensive tackle suffered a season-ending quad injury during Cleveland's Week 13 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Thanksgiving weekend in 2025. On Aug. 24, Collins finally was able to get back on the field, as he passed his physical and was activated from the physically unable to perform list for training camp.
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"It felt good, man," Collins said before the Browns' Day 19 training camp practice Aug 25. "It's a blessing to be able to get back out there. I guess it's been a long journey coming back, but it really ain't been that long, man. It's just really been an off season and just recovering, getting my body back right to be able to go play."
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The surroundings have changed quite a bit for Collins since he was last on the field. Nowhere have they changed more than on the defense.
Collins lined up regularly alongside Myles Garrett during his first season in Cleveland in 2025. When he finally got back to practicing, Garrett was gone and the player he was traded for, Jared Verse, was lining up at the right defensive end spot.
"I mean, that's just part of the business," Collins said, "but I mean playing next to Jared has been great. I mean, I haven't got to play next to him, but interaction, seeing him, how he does team stuff, how he is in our room, I think it's been great."
There was no question playing alongside Garrett helped out immensely for Collins. He was already having a career season at the time of the injury, with a career-high 6.5 sacks to go with 13 quarterback hits and seven tackles for loss.
While Garrett may be gone from one side, the other half of what was a very good defensive tackle tandem in 2025 is back. As much as Garrett helped Collins find opportunities for sacks, so did playing alongside then-rookie Mason Graham, the Browns' 2025 first-round pick.
The duo combined for 64 total pressures, including 45 hurries and 10 hits. The two also teamed up for a Week 3 sack of the Green Bay Packers' Jordan Love, which is where Graham got his only half-sack of the season.
"I got high expectations from Mason," Collins said. "I expect him to be super productive this year and can't wait to play with him."
There were other big changes between Collins' end to 2025 and his return in 2026. On a personal note, he got engaged in mid-May.
For the Browns, they also changed head coaches and defensive coordinarors. Todd Monken was hired to replace Kevin Stefanski as the head coach, while Mike Rutenberg replaced Jim Schwartz, who resigned after getting passed over for Monken.
Collins spent much of the offseason rehabbing around his family in the Houston area, with Graham among those who would stop by to train with him. That didn't prevent him from staying involved in the transition in Berea.
"I think I said it the other day, what an unbelievable job of the off season of what he did from afar because of his family was not here for the majority of the off season," Monken said. "Being in Houston, which in most cases is not ideal; In most cases, I think your medical people and your coaches would say, 'We want our players to be here." So that takes diligence. That takes being a pro. That means an everyday approach and where he's at in his career, it's not easy."
It's also a great example to be set for a group of defensive linemen who are all relatively young and unproven. The 31-year-old, 11-year pro Collins is the most experienced defensive linemen in the group and the oldest as well, edging out 30-year-old, 10-year pro defensive end Derek Barnett, who was signed Aug. 23 to fill the void created by Alex Wright's season-ending Achilles injury.
The Browns, though, have dealt with a rash of injuries along the defensive line. That's led a number of young, undrafted rookies and various others brought in off waivers to fill voids.
Collins was right there with them to show them the way.
"I think I was just being present for them," Collins said. "Just somebody there for them to talk to. I mean, of course I'm going to coach them up, coach them hard. It's a position that's demanding. The way we play especially. I was just on them for sure."
Now, Collins can be with them on the field. The timing of his return is perfect, with just under three week to the regular-season opener at Jacksonville.
While it's been a while since Collins played in a game, he's positive he can get himself ready for the Sept. 13 opener.
"Three weeks before the opener?," Collins said. "Yeah. I don't know if it was that much time. I should be there, man. We'll see."
Chris Easterling can be reached at [email protected]. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ. Sign up for Browns Insider newsletter at https://profile.beaconjournal.com/newsletters/browns-insider/
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Maliek Collins finds 'blessing' in 'long journey' back on field with Browns
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