The Cleveland Browns suffered their first significant injury of training camp when they lost defensive end Alex Wright for the season to an Achilles injury during joint practices with the Buffalo Bills.

 Beyond that setback, Cleveland has stayed relatively healthy throughout camp and is about to get reinforcements at the right time.

Maliek Collins’ return is a big deal for the Browns

The Browns will play their final preseason game Thursday against the New England Patriots, and several key players are expected to rejoin the mix this week during training camp. Veteran defensive tackle Maliek Collins has been out for essentially the entire offseason with his quadriceps injury, and it sounds like he will start ramping up for the 2026 NFL season. Collins has passed his physical and is eligible to begin practicing, as of Monday.
Even if Collins isn’t ready to go in Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, he could be available by Week 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Collins isn’t the only player Cleveland is getting back, either. Browns head coach Todd Monken addressed the injury situation Sunday.

“I anticipate Maliek…we’re hopeful we’ll get him back this week,” Monken said. “I think Mike (Michael) Burton will be back this week too. (Sam) Kamara being back, Sap (Tyreak Sapp) being back, D’Angelo Ross, hopefully, he’s already started to come back a little. Carson (Schwesinger) will do a little more this week. Outside of Alex, we’ve been relatively healthy other than minor nicks and bruises. We’ve been really lucky.”

Getting Collins back is a huge deal for the Browns because he was playing at a Pro Bowl level last season through 12 games before suffering a quadriceps injury. He had 6.5 sacks and 25 tackles through the first 12 games of the year and was on pace for a career year. Cleveland has relied on players like Mason Graham, who will start opposite Collins, along with Adin  Huntington and Mike Hall Jr. to hold down the defensive tackle room in his absence. The Browns defense is going to win up front under defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg, and having Collins in the mix is crucial.

The Browns haven’t had linebacker Carson Schwesinger for multiple weeks during training camp. Having him back fully healthy for Week 1 against the Jaguars will be important. He will lead their linebacker room alongside Quincy Williams, and the two will be on the field most of the time.

Getting fullback Michael Burton back matters as well. The Browns can use Burton as an extra blocker and tight end-type body, and their depth at that spot has taken a hit following the injury to tight end Jack Stoll, who was placed on injured reserve.

The Wright news stings for Cleveland, but the Browns are getting healthy otherwise at the right time. That’s all they can ask for heading into the regular season.