Less than two weeks before Cleveland’s season opener, defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson and offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. were activated from the Browns’ physically unable to perform list on Monday.
The two former Alabama linemen have not practiced during training camp as they recover from knee problems. Tomlinson will return to practice on Tuesday after being medically cleared, Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday, while Wills, despite passing a physical, “will not practice tomorrow but is progressing.”
Wills missed the final nine games of the 2023 season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn medial ligament in his right knee.
Tomlinson underwent arthroscopic knee surgery on July 26.
Tomlinson joined Cleveland as a free agent last season on a four-year, $57 million contract. The Browns’ defense allowed the fewest yards in the NFL in 2023, as Tomlinson recorded 28 tackles, three sacks, four tackles for loss and 12 quarterback hits in 16 regular-season games.
Wills joined the Browns as the 10th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. After playing right tackle at Alabama, Wills was out of all 55 games he played for Cleveland as a left tackle before being named the starter in 2023.
The Browns ended their preseason with a 37-33 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday night. Cleveland begins its regular season on September 8 at 3:25 p.m. CDT at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland against the Dallas Cowboys.
The Browns also announced that safety D’Anthony Bell, offensive tackle Jack Conklin and cornerback Greg Newsome II passed their physicals on Monday and will return to practice on Tuesday.
Conklin was Cleveland’s right offensive tackle when he was sidelined with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in the first game of the 2023 season.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.