Cleveland Browns get a mixed bag of injury news days before final preseason game against Patriots
There’s some good news and bad news for the Browns ahead of their final preseason game against the Patriots
The Cleveland Browns play their final preseason game on Thursday against the New England Patriots, and the focus is on getting through healthy before Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Deshaun Watson will make his first regular season start since 2024 when the games begin to count, but before that, Cleveland has a mixed bag of injury news coming out of practice this week.
Isaiah Bond enters concussion protocol for Cleveland
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond was checked for a concussion during the second preseason game against the Buffalo Bills and was ultimately cleared. However, Bond is now in concussion protocol with the Browns and will almost certainly not play Thursday against New England.
With a couple of weeks between now and the regular season opener, there’s a good chance Bond will be back for Week 1. The Browns need him healthy, and the hope is that he clears protocol with time to spare.
Maliek Collins back on the field for Browns
The Browns got a welcome sight at practice on Tuesday with defensive tackle Maliek Collins flying around through drills. Collins is making his way back from a quadriceps injury that ended his 2024 season and has been recovering throughout the offseason.
Collins looked good being back on the field, and if all goes according to plan, he will be suiting up for Cleveland in Week 1. Getting a healthy Collins back would be a boost for the Browns’ defensive front.
Center Parker Brailsford returns to practice
Cleveland also got center Parker Brailsford back at practice Tuesday after the rookie missed a couple of weeks with an injury. This is significant for the Browns because there is hope the Day 3 draft pick can win the backup center job over Luke Weipler.
There’s also long-term optimism that Brailsford can one day be the Browns’ starting center, though it’s more likely at this point that Elgton Jenkins will hold that role for now. Still, Brailsford could have to step in at some point this season, and Cleveland needs him ready. His return to practice is a good sign.
