The Cleveland Browns' dominant defensive front faces a significant void as Maliek Collins suffers season-ending injury
Maliek Collins season is officially over.
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski revealed the unfortunate news during his annual Monday, zoom press conference, making it known that Collins had suffered a quad injury that will require surgery to repair it.
"He's obviously been playing such good football and he provides great leadership for this football team," Stefanski said. "Disappointed for him, but he will bounce back."
The 30-year-old suffered the injury in the third quarter of the team's 26-8 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, going down on the play and immediately grabbing at his right leg as he tried to rush the passer on a second-and-15 play.
After spending some time sitting on the field with team trainers around him, Collins eventually had to be carted off to the locker room, which always induces the worst fears possible. Those fears were realized officially on Monday, with Collins now officially being ruled out for the season.
It's a devastating blow to a Browns defensive line that has arguably been the best in football. Collins individually has been one of the best interior defensive lineman in terms of generating pressure this season.
According to PFF, Collins ranks in the top 25 in terms of pass rush productivity this season among all qualifying interior defensive lineman. Through 12 games, the former 49ers DT had registered 25 total tackles, including seven for a loss and a career-high 6.5 sacks. He was thriving playing alongside rookie DT Mason Graham, who will now have to shoulder some more attention with Collins sidelined.
"When you lose a guy like Maliek, you don't replace him," said Stefanski. "Everybodys just gotta step up, it's multiple guys that have to step up. But he's made a big impact on this football team on the field and off the field."
Collins joined the Browns this past offseason via free agency, as he signed a two-year deal worth $20 million with the franchise after being released by the San Francisco. When he returned from his injury next season, Collins is slated to cost over $5.7 million against Cleveland's 2026 cap. His contract includes money pushed into voided years in the amount of $4.3 million.
Prior to joining the Browns, he spent the 2024 campaign with the 49ers, and the three years before that with the Houston Texans. He is a former third-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 2016, where he spent the first four years of his career. He played the 2020 season with the Las Vegas Raiders.