As Myles Garrett goes, so too goes the Cleveland Browns defense.
So with the Browns headed across the pond for a date with the Minnesota Vikings — who have made themselves at home in Great Britain — and starting a rookie quarterback, they took their defensive heart and soul was removed from the team’s injured list for Week 5.
Garrett, of course, is the third-highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL and has been his usual dominant self this season. Yet, he has been limited and listed as questionable on Cleveland’s injury report for its game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday with an ankle injury.
Myles Garrett: ‘Youâd Have to Kill Me to Keep Me From’ Playing Sunday
It was surprising to the Browns and fans when Garrett showed up on Cleveland’s injury report after missing practice Wednesday. It was a bit alarming when head coach Kevin Sefanski called him “day to day.”
Yet, Garrett rarely misses games — he has not suited up for just 10 games in his nine-season NFL career and none since sitting out Week 18 of the 2023 NFL season after the Browns had already clinched a playoff berth.
So when asked if he would be out on the field in London, Garrett said he would be out there, albeit in dramatic fashion.
“Iâm a never say die, kind of guy,” Garrett said in his Friday press conference. “So youâd have to kill me to keep me from being on the field. Pretty much.â
Myles Garrett Could Be In Line For a Huge Game Against the Vikings
Garrett leads the NFL in tackles for loss (8) and has four of Cleveland’s 11 sacks this season. His four sacks are as many as two teams, the Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens, and twice as many sacks as the Carolina Panthers have this season.
Garrett nearly singlehandedly stole the Browns’ Week 1 game against the Cincinnati Bengals — he had four tackles for loss and two sacks in Cleveland’s 17-16 loss. He had a similar impact in Cleveland’s 13-10 win over the Green Bay Packers last weekend, with a half-sack and six tackles in its lone win in Week 3.
But even though the Vikings are 2-2, they have allowed the most sacks allowed in the NFL (18). Plus, they will again be starting backup quarterback Carson Wentz — starter J.J. McCarthy was ruled out by the Vikings for the third straight game.
Wentz was sacked six times by the Pittsburgh Steelers in Minnesota’s 24-21 loss in Dublin, Ireland on Sunday. Wentz and the Minnesota offense will also be without three starting offensive linemen due to injury — right tackle Brian O’Neill, center Ryan Kelly and left guard Donovan Jackson.
The Vikings will also be forced to go with the No. 3 center on its depth chart, Blake Brandel, since backup center Michael Jurgens was also ruled out — though Garrett is still keeping his mind right, especially going against left tackle Christian Darrisaw.
“I gotta prepare as if their [whole] starting line was out there,” Garrett said. “Last I checked, one of the highest-paid tackles, was out there and playing some good ball. So I had to be at my very best and make sure the guys around me are doing the same.â
Garrett and the rest of the Browns defense will likely need to have a huge impact, with rookie Dillon Gabriel at quarterback in place of veteran Joe Flacco, who was benched earlier this week.
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