It has been a long wait for Cleveland Browns linebacker Sione Takitaki. 

He spent the end of the 2022 season on the injury reserve when he tore his ACL in Week 13 against the Houston Texans. And nearly three weeks into team training camp, Takitaki said he feels good and expects to play in September. 

“Yeah, I’m really confident," he said Monday. "That’s the aim date, but we’ll see when we get closer.”

Adding color to Takitaki's return is the new defense he is learning under Jim Schwartz. The former defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles was brought over after the 2022 season yielded horrid results for a Browns defense that should have been far better. 

New defensive scheme or not, Takitaki is planning for a productive season, one in which he reminds the NFL of the style of player he can be when fully healthy. 

"I am excited," Takitaki said on an episode of Best Podcast Available, via the team’s website prior to the start of training camp. "The rehab process has been going well. I like where I am at. Just been rehabbing a ton and just trying to get back to physical form. I like where I am and feel we can make a big comeback. I am ready to help anywhere I can."

When the Browns match up with the Bengals in Week 1 of the NFL season on Sept. 10, Takitaki will be around nine months removed from his injury. It is a testament to the advancement of ACL procedures, which have constantly improved over the last 20 years or so. 

It is something he is grateful for. 

“The surgery now is much better," he said. "A lot of upgrades, better surgeons, and the medicine too that they have nowadays, and the workouts and stuff to help guys come back have definitely skyrocketed now. Still, a very hard injury to come back from, but if you do the right things, you could definitely come back in better shape and be strong. So pretty confident in it.”

He added: “I know when the first game comes around, it’s going to be like, what, nine months and what, a week? So it’s that nine to twelve-month window. So I feel like we’re going to be just fine. We’ll just see how it plays out as we get closer.”

But injury aside, Takitaki is anxious and ready to get on the field and play the game he's come to know so well. 

“Yeah. I feel like through this whole process, I had to learn how to be patient," he said. "I’m not a very patient guy, you know what I mean? I’m a little impatient, so I’m excited to get back. I’m happy that I was able to come back and start running around with the guys and I’m excited, man. I’m pretty happy where we’re at getting back.”

And sometimes, that is good enough.

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Feature image Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports.