The Browns defense just got a little more stout ahead of playoffs

The Browns (11-6) have one of the best defenses, if not the best, in the league. Bad news for the other 13 teams in the playoffs, it just got a little bit better on Wednesday morning.

Cleveland announced that standout safety Grant Delpit is returning from injured reserve ahead of its wild-card round matchup against the Texans (10-7) on Saturday. The 25-year-old was placed on IR in December after suffering a groin injury in Week 14.

It was certainly a blow to the defense, which is allowing the least total yards per game (270.2) in the NFL. Delpit was the Browns' leading tackler at the time.

However, he still finished with the second most tackles on the team (80) despite missing the final four games of the regular season. The fourth-year safety also had 1.5 sacks, one fumble recovery, one interception and three passes defensed on the year.

Second-year safety D'Anthony Bell did fill in nicely in Delpit's absence, totaling 22 tackles, one forced fumble, two interceptions and four passes defensed in Weeks 15-18. Delpit still brings a much higher upside as a second-round pick in 2020.

It is still not guaranteed that Delpit will play this weekend either. Cleveland will likely see how he looks in practice first. It would be surprising if he didn't suit up ahead of one of the biggest games of his young NFL career.

The Browns will surely need him going up against red-hot rookie QB C.J. Stroud, who threw for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He didn't play in the first meeting of the season in Week 16 when Cleveland defeated Houston 36-22.

Neither did Delpit, which is why his return to action is even more important when facing a Texans offense that is averaging the seventh most passing yards per game (245.5) in the league.