Zak Zinter "Felt Great" Practicing At Browns Rookie Minicamp For First Time

The Browns selected Zak Zinter in the third round of last month's NFL Draft.

Browns third-round pick Zak Zinter speaks to the media during the team's rookie minicamp / Spencer German

New Browns guard Zak Zinter could only watch as the Michigan Wolverines made their championship run back in January. Several months prior, Zinter had to be carted off the field against top rival Ohio State after breaking his tibia and fibula. The injury forced him to have an abnormal pre- NFL Draft process focused on rehabbing rather than training for the pros.

All healed up and ready to go, Zinter got his first taste of the NFL on Friday when the Browns opened up rookie minicamp. It was his first real football practice in nearly six months, which felt like a long time coming for the two-time first team All-Big Ten guard.

"Oh, man, it felt great, Zinter said. "I've been itching to get back out there on the field. You know what I mean? Going through the whole process and doing all that and not be able to compete and do anything, it felt great. That's what I've been working for my whole rehab is get back out there."

 

First look at new #Browns o-line coach Andy Dickerson coaching up the rookie offensive lineman, including third-round pick Zak Zinter pic.twitter.com/0lDyW4UHBc

— 𝚂𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚛 𝙶𝚎𝚛𝚖𝚊𝚗 (@Spencito_) May 10, 2024

While he couldn't participate in pre-draft staples like the NFL Combine and Michigan's pro day, Zinter did hold and record a private workout to show teams how far along he was in his recovery.

That was nothing though, compared to his first days of practice with the Browns.

"I've been working up doing my rehab and all that, but collectively, definitely the most I've done" he said.

The aches of practice are a small price to pay for Zinter. Being back out on a football field playing the sport he loves makes it all worth it. Rookie mini camp is just the start of Zinter getting reactivated to football. When the three-day session ends, Browns OTAs begin -- the next phase of the offseason program that features three different three day sessions across three different weeks.

The next month will test Zinter and his fellow rookies mentally as well.

"It's fun," said Zinter. "Just learning the playbook, getting out there, moving around with the guys, learning how the dudes are moving next to me, the communication, all that good stuff for sure."

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