Maliek Collins’ Breakout Year Cut Short, But His Impact in Cleveland Could Be Just Beginning
The Cleveland Browns haven’t had a lot go right this season, but one of the few bright spots on a struggling roster was the emergence of veteran defensive tackle Maliek Collins. At 30 years old and on his fourth team in the NFL, Collins was playing the best football of his career - anchoring the interior of Cleveland’s defensive line alongside superstar Myles Garrett and bringing a relentless motor that had him grading out as one of the league’s top interior pass rushers.
Now, that momentum has come to a screeching halt.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed this week that Collins suffered a season-ending quad injury that will require surgery. It’s a brutal blow for a player who had finally found the right fit in Jim Schwartz’s attacking defensive scheme - and for a team that, despite its record, had found something special in the trenches.
A Career Year, Derailed
Before the injury, Collins was on pace for a personal-best season. He racked up 28 quarterback pressures, 6.5 sacks, and 19 run stuffs - numbers that don’t just jump off the stat sheet, but reflect a player who was consistently disruptive in both the pass and run game.
According to Pro Football Focus, he was the second-highest graded interior pass rusher in the league. That’s elite company.
He wasn’t just producing - he was thriving. And for a Browns defense that’s built around Garrett’s game-wrecking ability off the edge, Collins’ presence on the inside gave Cleveland a true one-two punch up front. His chemistry with Garrett was clear, and his ability to collapse the pocket from the interior made life easier for everyone around him.
Garrett, speaking after Sunday’s 26-8 loss to the 49ers, didn’t sugarcoat how much Collins’ absence will be felt.
“He’s been amazing. He’s done a great job.
As far as his trajectory, he was going to have a double-digit sack season, which he had yet to do. It sucks seeing him go down, and just hurts seeing that look on his face.
Just disappointed knowing he’s got so much left for the year and giving more to this team. So we’re behind him 100 percent.
We’re going to support him however we can.”
That kind of reaction tells you everything you need to know about Collins’ impact - not just on the field, but in the locker room.
What’s Next for the Browns?
At 3-9, the Browns are already locked into another losing season - their second straight and fourth in the last five years. So in terms of immediate playoff implications, Collins’ injury doesn’t shift much. But that doesn’t mean the final five games are meaningless.
With Collins sidelined, veteran Shelby Harris is likely to step into a larger role, while rookie Adin Huntington could see more snaps as the Browns start evaluating their younger talent. It’s a chance to get a better sense of what they have on the interior, especially with an eye toward next season.
And that’s where things get interesting.
Collins is under contract through 2026, having signed a two-year, $20 million deal in March. But coming off a significant injury, 2026 now shapes up as a potential prove-it year - a chance for Collins to show that this season wasn’t a fluke and that he can return to form after surgery.
Given how well he fit in Schwartz’s system, there’s reason to believe the Browns will give him that opportunity. But they’ll also need to keep building up front. Even after selecting defensive tackle Mason Graham with the No. 5 overall pick last year, Cleveland could look to add more young depth through the draft, especially with questions looming about long-term durability.
A Long Road Back, But a Clear Role Ahead
For Collins, this injury is a detour - not a dead end.
Originally a third-round pick by the Cowboys in 2016, Collins has carved out a solid NFL career with stops in Dallas, Las Vegas, Houston, and San Francisco before landing in Cleveland. But this year, in Schwartz’s aggressive front, he looked like more than just a rotational piece - he looked like a foundational player.
The Browns may not have much left to play for in 2025, but Collins’ presence - and now, his absence - has been one of the most telling storylines of the season. He gave the Browns interior pressure they’ve been missing for years. And even though this chapter ends with a trip to injured reserve, the story might not be over.
If he can return healthy in 2026, Collins will have every chance to prove he’s still a key part of Cleveland’s future. The tape from this season shows a player who still has plenty left in the tank - and who may have finally found the right home to show it.