Maliek

Collins

Collins was carted from the field in the third quarter of the Browns’ Week 13 loss to the 49ers and will now miss the remainder of the season. Collins is expected to undergo surgery in the coming days. The 10-year vet has been playing at a high level in his first year with the Browns, notching a career-high 6.5 sacks in the 12 games he’s appeared in while also totaling 25 tackles, seven TFLs, and 13 QB hits. Collins joined the Browns on a two-year, $20 million contract this offseason and should be ready in time for the start of training camp next season.

Collins suffered an oblique injury on Friday, but the 30-year-old defensive tackle is good to go. His 21 quarterback pressures and five sacks both rank second on the team. The Browns declared WR Jamari Thrash, OG Zak Zinter, OT Cornelius Lucas, RB Raheim Sanders, DT Sam Kamara, LB Easton Mascarenas-Arnold and DE Alex Wright inactive for Week 11 against the Ravens.

Collins “felt something” during practice on Friday per Kevin Stefanski and left early. Collins has been one of the better players on the Browns defense this year, notching a 90.4 PFF pass rush grade. His absence would be felt if he didn’t suit up on Sunday.

Collins was a cap casualty for the 49ers this offseason but didn’t take long to land on his feet. Per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, his new deal includes $13 million guaranteed. Collins logged five sacks in Houston in 2023 and was then traded to the 49ers for another five-sack season. He started all 17 games and added two fumble recoveries to his stat sheet. Collins will take the place of Dalvin Tomlinson, who was released by Cleveland earlier this week.

Collins was acquired from the Texans last offseason in exchange for a seventh-round draft pick. The veteran defensive tackle was entering the final year of his contract, but will now be a free agent after a year in which he totaled 33 tackles, five sacks, and five TFLs. His five sacks tied a previous career high while his 715 defensive snaps marked his most since 2019. Collins turns 30 next month and can still provide defenses an adequate body to fill rush lanes and get after the quarterback.

Houston’s revamping of the defensive line continues unabated just before the official kickoff of free agency. The Niners’ acquisition of Collins likely means Arik Armstead will be released this afternoon. Collins had 11 sacks over the past three seasons with the Texans. In 2023, he set a career high with 41 tackles.

Anderson missed practice with an ankle injury he has played through in Weeks 17 and 18. DT Maliek Collins (hip), EDGE Jonathan Greenard (ankle), EDGE Jerry Hughes (ankle), and DT Sheldon Rankins (shoulder) also did not practice on Tuesday. The Texans have had a banged-up defensive front for a couple weeks now, with Greenard being the only player that missed Week 18. Expect most of them to return to practice later in the week, with a good chance to play against the Browns on Saturday.

Anderson previously missed time due to the ankle injury and just came back to play Week 17. He was listed as a non-participant in Tuesday’s walkthrough but still has a chance to suit up in practice later this week to play a Week 18 Saturday matchup against the Colts. DT Maliek Collins (hip), EDGE Jonathan Greenard (ankle), and DT Sheldon Rankins (ankle) were all listed as non-participants as well, with injuries piling up on the Texans defensive line.

The good news is that Will Anderson is back from his high-ankle sprain and defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins is available as well. The Texans entered the weekend with all four of their top pass-rushers listed as questionable or our. Only two of them, Collins and Greenard, are inactive.

Defensive tackles Maliek Collins and Sheldon Rankins are questionable, as is EDGE Will Anderson. That’s the Texans’ top four pass-rushers all listed as either out or questionable. Greenard easily leads the unit in sacks with 12.5 on the season. The cluster of injuries should give Will Levis plenty of clean pockets to work from this week.