Browns' Sione Takitaki, Anthony Walker Jr. gain 'new appreciation' for each other in rehab

BEREA — Anthony Walker Jr. and Sione Takitaki have shared a position room with the Browns for more than two years now. However, it took the worst moments in their respective football careers to truly bring the two together.

The two Browns linebackers have played together since 2021. Their second season together, though, ended painfully for both.

Walker suffered a season-ending torn quad tendon in Week 3 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Takitaki suffered a season-ending torn ACL in Week 13 against the Houston Texans.

As they continue to work their way back to playing form, they have found themselves forming a special bond that wasn't there before.

"You got a lot of competitive guys and a lot of alphas in the room, you know what I mean," Takitaki said prior to Monday's practice. "So we would get into it a little bit before, but I felt like both being injured definitely bonded that relationship. We were able to grow. I was able to learn about him. He was able to learn about me and we was working out together. So that's very motivating too."

Both had been taking the slow path back to full practice participation. While both had gone through some individual drills off and on during the first week-and-a-half, they had not gotten involved in the 11-on-11 drills.

That changed on Monday, when those two — along with receiver Jakeem Grant Sr., who's coming back from a torn Achilles from last August — took part in those drills for the first time since last season. Takitaki even recorded an interception of Dorian Thompson-Robinson in a red-zone 7-on-7.

"Two guys that are big leaders in the linebacker room, on the defensive side of the ball and for our football team," Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said prior to Monday's practice. "They both play with great passion. They both are great workers in the weight room, in the meeting rooms, you name it. So not surprising that they bond together over those types of things."

Both linebackers had a chance to not still be teammates this season. Both were unrestricted free agents during the offseason, but both elected to re-sign with the Browns.

In fact, the Browns brought back all three potential free-agent linebackers who had ended the season on injured reserve. Jordan Kunaszyk was placed on the list the day before their Week 17 game at the Washington Commanders with a hand injury that hasn't cost him any time this camp.

Once they both knew where they would be playing this season, they both went to work

"It's funny how God works sometimes, put somebody in the same position as you and have to bring you guys together," Walker said during the first week of training camp. "We were rehabbing together pretty much all offseason. Even during the summer, we both didn't go home, we stayed in Cleveland and like you said, built that bond. Once you get to know someone a little deeper and understand why they are the way that they are, you appreciate 'em a little more."

One of the biggest things both learned about the other was the commonalities they shared. That went beyond football to their passion for football and dedication to hard work.

Yet, even in those commonalities, they found some differences.

"I'm kind of one of those guys, let's knock out what we got to do," Takitaki said. "Anthony is very detailed. Everything he does from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. is going to be very detailed out. And some days I might just, whatever's thrown at me, I'm trying to go with the wind. But Anthony, he's very, he's got this on his 5 p.m. schedule, he is going to knock it out."

For Walker, it was almost like finding the opposite about his teammate. It was the way Takitaki attacked every step of the rehab — in some ways, pulling Walker along with him — that resonated.

“During this rehab, obviously seeing him go to work every day is you get a newfound appreciation," Walker said. "A lot of guys don't want to go through that, me included. So for us to do that every day when we didn't want to and we didn't have to. Some days we could take off and we're like, nah, we're coming in, we're going to get some extra work to see that, to have somebody go through that with you, definitely a new appreciation there.”

Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on Twitter at @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns' Sione Takitaki, Anthony Walker Jr. gain 'new appreciation'