Tyson Campbell put in the kind of day that says plenty about where he stands with the Browns right now: banged up, still effective, and apparently trending in the right direction.
The 26-year-old defensive back was questionable all week because of an ankle injury, then suited up Sunday, Sept. 20, at Raymond James Stadium and helped Cleveland leave Tampa with a 23-19 win over the Buccaneers. Campbell didn’t just make it through the game - he made his presence felt with five combined tackles, four solo stops and one tackle for loss.
But it wasn’t a clean afternoon. Campbell had already been grinding through the ankle issue when he later went down hard after a 50-50 ball into the end zone from Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield.
He collided with a teammate on the play, had to be helped off the field and was evaluated by trainers. After a two-hour weather delay, he did not return.
On Monday, Sept. 21, Todd Monken was asked what Campbell’s outlook looked like now that both an ankle and hip injury were being tracked. Monken said the team would monitor him through the week and added, “We’ll see as the week goes on where he’s at, but I like his chances to be able to play, based on how he’s wired.”
That kind of confidence matters for Cleveland, because Campbell has become a key piece since arriving from the Jacksonville Jaguars last season. He has settled in well alongside Denzel Ward, and the two combined for 92 tackles, three for a loss, one quarterback hit and two interceptions in the 2025 season.
The Browns’ defense needed the rebound badly after Week 1, when Jacksonville hung 34 points on them. Against Tampa Bay, though, the unit looked far more like itself, holding Mayfield to a 61.% completion rate, 182 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
If Campbell can keep moving forward and the injury list doesn’t grow, Cleveland should have a real shot to carry that defensive momentum into Week 3.
The Browns host the Carolina Panthers at 1:00 p.m. EST on Sunday, Sept. 27, at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland.
In Other News...
Browns Just Added A New Twist To Steelers Night In Cleveland
Before the Browns even get to their Week 4 Thursday night meeting with the Steelers, theyve already put a little extra Cleveland flavor on the calendar. The team announced the game will be themed as the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Game, a nod that fits neatly with a franchise that has spent the early part of the season trying to build momentum at home while getting ready for its Week 3 opener against Carolina.
It also adds another layer of intrigue for a prime-time matchup that already carries plenty of edge. The obvious question now is who, if anyone, will take part in the nights entertainment, especially with this years Hall of Fame class and their touring schedules offering a few possible fits. For now, though, the Browns have only set the theme, leaving the rest of the details to develop as Steelers week approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Todd Monken's Aggressive Style Is Testing Browns Fans Already
Todd Monken wasted little time putting his stamp on the Browns, and one of the earliest examples came in a game against the Buccaneers when he went for it on fourth down from his own 34-yard line. It was the kind of decision that tells a locker room a coach trusts his team, but it also left Cleveland flirting with a mistake that could have handed away points and tilted a tight game in Tampa Bays favor.
The Browns were already chasing at halftime before flipping things around in the second half and pulling out a 23-19 win, which made the call easier to defend in hindsight. Monken stuck by the aggressive approach afterward, even while acknowledging the execution on that play fell short, and that tension is exactly what will keep this new look under a microscope as the season goes on. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Fans Are Already Feeling The Weight Of The Myles Garrett Trade
The Browns were hoping the Myles Garrett trade would help reshape the front seven quickly, and the early returns have been uneven. Jared Verse, the two-time Pro Bowler acquired in the deal, has had a quiet start in Cleveland, with a low pressure rate and no sacks through his first two games. Opponents have also keyed on him more heavily, and the Browns have not been able to give him much help up front because injuries have thinned out the pass-rushing group around him.
There is still plenty of time for Verse to settle in, and Cleveland knew it was getting a developing player with real upside when it made the move. The trade also brought in additional draft capital, which gives the Browns more flexibility beyond this season, but the present-day concern is obvious: without healthier support around him, Verse is being asked to do a lot before he has had much chance to find his footing. [Read more 🡒]