There are few things on planet Earth as difficult as blocking Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett. You want to be at full strength when you come toe-to-toe with the six-foot-four, 270-pounder who is in hot pursuit of the greatest season ever recorded by a pass rusher.
For the Buffalo Bills‘ offensive tackle Dion Dawkins, this could not have been further from the state he found himself in before Sunday’s all-important Week 16 game.
Reporters swarmed the nine-year NFL veteran’s locker after his team edged out a narrow 23-20 road win.
“I had the flu, man! I had the flu earlier in the week,” Dawkins told reporters. “Yes, it was the worst week to get sick, bro.”
Dawkins did not practice a single time during the week until Friday afternoon. He was listed as a DNP with an illness.
“God does crazy things. And for me to be, what, 14 pounds less? You know, I was moving 14 miles per hour faster,” Dawkins said with a laugh.
“Every pound is a little bit faster, so it’s a gift and a curse, right. I’m thankful that everything happens the way that it does. With being sick and not being able to eat, I was lighter. Deal with what you are able to deal with and go out there and play.”
Dawkins played in every one of the Bills’ 50 offensive snaps.
“I feel great now! We got a dub,” Dawkins replied when asked if he is feeling better.
Bills Keep Myles Garrett From History
Garrett came into Sunday’s game one full sack away from tying the all-time NFL single-season sack record.
The record is currently held by Michael Strahan, who recorded 22.5 sacks in 2001, and T.J. Watt, who tied Strahan’s record in 2021.
Garrett walked into the stadium with 21.5 sacks on the season, and was left chasing after 60 minutes as Dawkins and the Bills’ offensive line were able to keep quarterback Josh Allen upright for most of the game.
The Browns’ entire defense combined to account for only two sacks.
Garrett was credited with a half-sack early on in Sunday’s action and came just inches away from breaking the record in the fourth quarter when Allen fell to the ground near his own goal line.
In the NFL, when a quarterback falls to the ground, the first player to touch him is credited with the sack.
Had Garrett beaten rookie Mason Graham to the touch, Allen would have provided Garrett with the record-breaking sack.
Dawkins had nothign but praise for the future Hall of Fame defender.
“Our job is to protect 17,” Dawkins said. “I had [Garrett] with me the whole game. So, I’m thankful that I’m able to compete, and I’m thankful that [Garrett] is who he is to make us compete at a high level. I respect that guy, I really do.”
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Bills Dion Dawkins Reveals He Lost 14 Pounds Fighting Flu Before Sunday appeared first on Heavy Sports.