Collins Begins Camp on PUP
Cleveland Browns Place Key Defensive Tackle Maliek Collins on PUP List to Start Camp
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Key Points
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In the 2025 season, Maliek Collins posted a career‑high 6.5 sacks in 12 games, and also logged 13 quarterback hits and 25 tackles (plus a fumble recovery).
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Collins’ NFL journey spans four teams before the Browns: drafted by the Cowboys (third‑round, 2016), then stints with the Raiders and Texans, a 2024 trade to the 49ers, and a two‑year, $20 million deal with Cleveland in 2025.
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The Garrett trade context: Cleveland dealt Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams on June 1 in exchange for Jared Verse, who is expected to bolster the Browns’ interior rush.
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Cleveland is counting on young interior linemen to carry the load: Mason Graham (the 2025 No. 5 overall pick) and Mike Hall Jr. are expected to contribute, with depth from Sam Kamara, Kalia Davis, and Adin Huntington.
The Cleveland Browns placed defensive tackle Maliek Collins on the active/physically unable to perform (PUP) list to open training camp, according to Browns Nation. Collins is still recovering from a torn quad that required surgery last season. He cannot practice until he passes a physical, but the team can activate him at any time.
The move was expected. Coach Todd Monken had already said Collins would not be ready for the start of camp, per News 5 Cleveland. Collins is expected to be the only Browns player on PUP when veterans report July 28 and full-squad practice begins July 29.
Collins Had a Career Year Before the Injury
Despite playing in only 12 games last season, Collins put together the best year of his career. He recorded 6.5 sacks, 13 quarterback hits, and 25 tackles, plus a fumble recovery. That production convinced Cleveland to sign him to a two-year, $20 million deal in 2025, according to News 5 Cleveland.
Collins, 31, has played for four teams before the Browns. The Cowboys drafted him in the third round in 2016. He later had stints with the Raiders and Texans, and was traded to the 49ers in 2024 before landing in Cleveland. His path shows a veteran who keeps finding ways to contribute.
Young Interior Linemen Must Step Up Now
With Collins sidelined to start camp, Cleveland will lean on its young interior players. Mason Graham, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2025 draft, is expected to take a big role. Mike Hall Jr. is also in the mix, along with depth players Sam Kamara, Kalia Davis, and Adin Huntington, per Browns Nation.
Graham and Hall have yet to prove themselves at the NFL level. Collins' absence gives them more practice reps early. But it also raises the stakes. The Browns need to know what they have before Collins returns.
Myles Garrett Trade Reshapes Cleveland's Pass Rush
Cleveland's defensive front looked very different heading into this offseason. On June 1, the Browns traded star pass rusher Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams. In return, they got edge rusher Jared Verse, according to Head Topics. The move sent shockwaves through the league.
Verse is expected to help replace some of what Garrett brought. But losing a player of Garrett's caliber is hard to offset. Collins' torn quad makes the front-seven situation even thinner as camp opens. Getting Collins back healthy is now a top priority for Cleveland's defense.
What the PUP List Means for Collins' Return
Being on the active PUP list is not a long-term label. The team can activate Collins as soon as he passes a physical, per News 5 Cleveland. There is no set timetable. It depends entirely on how fast his quad heals and how he responds to workouts.
The Browns are not rushing him back. A torn quad is a serious injury, and surgery adds recovery time. Cleveland would rather have Collins healthy in October than hurt in August. Camp starts July 29, and the team hopes he can join the group well before the regular season kicks off.
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