The Cleveland Browns may not have All-Pro pass-rusher Myles Garrett at full health when they open the season on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Garrett missed practice on Thursday with a hip injury. The team confirmed the injury following practice. Game injury designations will be released on Friday following practice. That update will provide more clarity on Garrett’s status for the team’s Week 1 matchup.
The Browns cannot afford to be without Garrett for the opener. He’s the engine of the defense and has collected 14 or more sacks in four straight seasons. Garrett signed a four-year extension this offseason that averages $40 million per year and includes $123 million guaranteed.
Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reported that Garrett was seen walking into the facility with his personal physical therapist after practice. The injury was not apparent when he was walking, per Cabot, who also speculated that Garrett may have undergone an MRI. He was not previously on the injury report.
Bengals QB Joe Burrow Praises Myles Garrett
Consistent pressure on Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow will be a big part of the Browns’ path to victory. Cincinnati has a high-powered passing attack, led by Burrow and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who led the league in passing and receiving yards, respectively.
“(Burrow) is good versus the blitz, he’s good when you don’t blitz. He’s good when he holds the ball, he’s good when he gets the ball out,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said. “So, it really comes back to playing sound defense across the board. This is a huge, huge challenge. It’s a really good scheme. They have good players across the board. But we have to be about our business.”
Burrow didn’t mince words when asked about facing Garrett, making it clear that the Bengals’ game plan starts with trying to contain the Browns’ star pass rusher.
“He can win the game if you let him,” Burrow said Wednesday. “You have to, No. 1, gameplan around him. No. 2, as a quarterback, you have to be aware of where he’s at at all times with protection IDs and also know where your quick answer is in whatever concept you have called.
“Because sometimes he’s back there before you can catch the ball, basically, and you have to get it out. But we play great rushers a lot. He’s one of the best, if not the best. But in this division, you plays guys like that a lot. We’ll have a good plan for him. He’s going to make plays. And when he does, you gotta hold on the ball and not make a bad play worse.”
Browns Upgraded Interior of Defensive Line
Garrett is the big name on the defensive line but the Browns are also interested in what they’ve done to improve the interior. Cleveland drafted Mason Graham No. 5 overall. He’ll team up with veteran Maliek Collins, Mike Hall Jr. and others on the inside. The hope is their impact will help Garrett and the rest of the pass-rushers on the outside.
“Our ability to win inside in this game is going to go a long way to coming out with a win. Because the ball comes out so fast, and the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. Those guys are closer to the play,” Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said. “So, those guys need to step up for us. They need to win those matchups. And when we play our best, our D-line leads us there as our engine.”
The Browns are a 5.5-point home underdog against the Bengals. That number will likely increase if Garrett is unavailable.
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