Patriots' Sione Takitaki: Signing with New England
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Takitaki has agreed to sign a two-year, $6.5 million deal with the Patriots that could be worth as much as $10.3 million, Mark Daniels of MassLive reports.
The fifth-year pro started seven of the Browns' 15 games in 2023 and finished with 66 tackles. Takitaki spent his first five seasons with Cleveland and started 36 of the 72 contests he played in.
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Browns' Sione Takitaki: Three tackles in playoff loss
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Takitaki recorded three tackles and played 45 of 46 snaps in last Saturday's 45-14 wild-card playoff loss to Houston.
Takitaki was a prominent member of Cleveland's defense in 2023, which was better during the regular season than what it showed in the postseason loss. He ranked third in tackles during the regular season with 66, including 2.0 sacks, and had one interception. The five-year veteran enters the offseason as an unrestricted free agent.
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Browns' Sione Takitaki: Leads team with seven stops
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Takitaki tallied seven tackles (six solo) in Sunday's 36-22 victory over the Texans in Week 16.
Takitaki's tackle total was his highest since he also registered seven stops against Denver in Week 12. The fifth-year pro is up to 50 tackles on the season, and he's also recorded a career-high 2.0 sacks. Takitaki's role has fluctuated during the campaign, but he's been on the field for at least 88 percent of Cleveland's defensive snaps each of the past two weeks.
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Browns' Sione Takitaki: Will suit up Sunday
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Takitaki (hamstring) is active for Sunday's Week 8 matchup with the Seahawks.
Takitaki missed last Sunday's contest against Indianapolis with a hamstring injury and sat out practice both Tuesday and Wednesday during Week 8 prep. However, he was able to practice in a limited fashion Friday, and that was enough for him to suit up Sunday. Tony Fields will likely see his workload reduced with Takitaki back in action.
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Browns' Sione Takitaki: Questionable for Sunday at Seattle
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Takitaki (hamstring) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game at the Seahawks, Jake Trotter of ESPN.com reports.
Takitaki is in jeopardy of missing his second straight game as he nurses a hamstring injury. If he can't go, 2021 fifth-rounder Tony Fields figures to continue to see an expanded role in Week 8.
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Browns' Sione Takitaki: Won't play Sunday
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Takitaki (hamstring) is listed as out for Sunday's game at the Colts, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Takitaki will be sidelined for the first time this season as he tends to a hamstring injury. In his absence, 2021 fifth-rounder Tony Fields could see increased playing time.
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Browns' Sione Takitaki: Should start Week 1
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Takitaki (knee) wasn't listed on Cleveland's injury report Wednesday ahead of Sunday's game versus Cincinnati.
Despite tearing his ACL in Week 13 of last season, Takitaki appears to be ready to go for Week 1 of 2023. He'll start at linebacker next to Anthony Walker and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah on a Browns defense with Super Bowl aspirations.
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Browns' Sione Takitaki: Hopeful for start of season
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Takitaki (knee) is "doing everything he can to be ready for Week 1," according to head coach Kevin Stefanski, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Takitaki took part in individual drills Sunday as he continues to recover from a torn ACL suffered during Week 13 of the 2022 campaign. Despite being limited to just 12 games last season, he still managed to record a career-high 71 tackles. He should play a significant role in the team's linebacker corps once he proves himself healthy enough to compete.
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Browns' Sione Takitaki: Ready for comeback
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Takitaki (knee) expects to make a "big comeback" in 2023, Brenna White of NFL.com reports.
Takitaki suffered a torn ACL in Week 13 of the 2022 campaign and has been recovering since, but he is "excited" for his return this year. The rehab process has reportedly been going well, and the linebacker, once healthy, will look to build off of the career-high 71 tackles, including a sack, he recorded over 12 contests last season. Takitaki along with Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah are both set to return from injuries and operate as Cleveland's starting outside linebackers in 2023.
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Browns' Sione Takitaki: Rehabbing to start minicamp
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Takitaki (knee) was rehabbing on a side field to start mandatory minicamp, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Takitaki recorded a career-high 71 tackles before tearing his ACL in Week 13 last year. Given the typical return timeline, it'd be surprising to see the 2019 third-round pick cleared for full-contact practices by the start of the 2023 campaign, but the team hasn't ruled that possibility out yet. Takitaki has started 28 games over the past three seasons and re-signed with the Browns this offseason on a one-year deal.
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Browns' Sione Takitaki: Not playing Week 18
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Coach Kevin Stefanski has ruled Takitaki out (shoulder) for Week 18, Tom Withers of the Associated Press reports.
Takitaki was forced out of Monday's loss to the Steelers due to a shoulder injury, and he won't be rushed back for Week 18's contest against the Bengals. The Browns have already been officially eliminated from postseason contention, so Takitaki's 2021 campaign ends with 44 tackles (21 solo), one forced fumble and one fumble recovery through 15 appearances.
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Browns' Sione Takitaki: Suffers hamstring injury
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Takitaki left Thursday's practice with a hamstring injury, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Takitaki racked up two solo tackles in the team's preseason opener against Jacksonville, and it's not yet clear whether his injury will impact his availability for Sunday's exhibition matchup against the Giants. If the 2019 third-rounder is healthy for the start of the regular season, he's expected to take on a starting role.
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Browns' Sione Takitaki: Returns from COVID list
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The Browns activated Takitaki (undisclosed) from the reserve/COVID-19 list Friday.
Takitaki wasn't able to face Jacksonville in Week 13 due to his placement on the COVID-19 list, but he's now on track to return in Tennessee on Sunday. The second-year pro has handled at least 25 percent of defensive snaps in six of his last seven appearances.
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Browns' Sione Takitaki: Goes to COVID-19 list
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The Browns placed Takitaki on the reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
Takitaki has either tested positive for the virus or come into close contact with an infected person. As such, he won't be available for this Sunday's game against the Jaguars. The second-year linebacker is coming off an impressive performance against the Eagles during which he produced three solo tackles and added a pick-six. Jacob Phillips could start in his place Week 12.
