Browns defensive tackle Maliek Collins passes physical, is eligible to return to practice

The Cleveland Browns activated the next step in their offseason health and availability process Tuesday by announcing that defensive tackle Maliek Collins has passed a physical and is eligible to return to practice. The move matters because availability in August practices shapes defensive reps, rotational depth and, ultimately, who earns starting-and-substitution roles when preseason and regular-season preparation accelerate.

In the same transaction notice, the Browns also waived cornerback Tyron Herring and tight end Dea. The team did not frame the actions as a change in regular-season outlook, but waiving players during training camp commonly reflects roster tightening based on performance in practice, positional needs and the limits of offseason group sizes.

For Collins, “eligible to return to practice” is a specific development rather than a promise of immediate game action. Passing a physical typically clears the player to resume normal team preparations with trainers and coaches, which can include full-squad periods depending on how the coaching staff manages his workload over subsequent practices.

From a roster-management perspective, combining an eligibility update with two waivers indicates the Browns are making room to recalibrate the defensive and special-teams depth charts. Defensive tackle is a key position in Cleveland’s scheme, where the interior needs to absorb double-teams and keep the pass rush lanes open for edge rushers, so adding Collins back into the practice pool can have ripple effects across the line rotation.

The Herring and Dea moves also highlight how quickly roles can shift in the NFL when teams finalize their top groups. For a cornerback, camp work often determines who can handle boundary assignments, coverages against slot receivers and special-teams responsibilities. For a tight end, the evaluation usually runs through blocking consistency, route running and how well the player fits the team’s run-pass balance.

These moves do not, by themselves, settle the Browns’ final 53-man roster, but they reduce uncertainty for the near-term practices by clarifying who is available and who is no longer in the immediate mix. Teams typically continue to adjust through the end of camp as players either earn expanded reps or are replaced by others seeking a roster opportunity.

What to watch next is how quickly Collins regains full practice participation after the physical clearance, and whether the Browns’ defensive tackle rotation stabilizes as a result. On the personnel side, the outcomes for Herring and Dea, including whether they rejoin the Browns later in the preseason process or are claimed by another team, could further affect Cleveland’s depth at cornerback and tight end.

As the Browns move into the final stretch of preseason preparation, each practice becomes a sorting mechanism: who is healthy enough to be evaluated in every situation, and which fringe players can win the next roster spot through consistent work. Collins’ return to practice eligibility is the kind of change that can shift preparation priorities across multiple defensive packages and special-teams units.