When the Cleveland Browns open the season against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, All-Pro pass rusher Myles Garrett may not be fully healthy.
Garrett missed practice on Thursday due to a hip issue. The team confirmed the injury after practice. Game injury designations will be announced on Friday following practice. That update will provide more information about Garrett’s status for the team’s Week 1 game.
The Browns can’t afford to be without Garrett in the opener. He is the defense’s engine, racking up 14 or more sacks in four consecutive seasons. Garrett inked a four-year agreement this offseason at $40 million per year, with $123 million guaranteed.
According to Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com, Garrett was seen heading inside the facility with his personal physical therapist following practice. According to Cabot, Garrett’s injuries was not visible while walking, and he may have had an MRI. He has not previously appeared on the injury report.
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow praises Myles Garrett.
The Browns will need to put consistent pressure on Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow if they are to win. Cincinnati features a powerful passing attack, headed by Burrow and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who lead the conference in passing and receiving yards, respectively.
“(Burrow) is good against the blitz; he’s also good when there is no blitz. “He’s good when he holds the ball, and he’s good when he throws it out,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said. “So it all comes down to playing good defense across the board. This is an enormous, massive challenge. It’s an excellent scheme. They have good players all around. But we have to go about our business.”
When asked about facing Garrett, Burrow didn’t mince words, emphasizing that the Bengals’ game plan begins with containing the Browns’ top pass rusher.
“He can win the game if you let him,” Burrow stated on Wednesday. “First and foremost, you must organize your strategy around him. No. 2, as a quarterback, you must be aware of his location at all times using protective IDs, as well as where your quick answer is in whatever idea you have called.
“Because sometimes he’s back there before you can catch the ball, so you have to get it out.” However, we frequently play great rushers. He is one of, if not the best. But in this division, you play players like that a lot. We will have a nice plan for him. He is going to make plays. And when he does
And when he does, you must keep the ball and avoid exacerbating an already poor situation.
Browns upgraded the inside of their defensive line.
Garrett is the big name on the defensive line, but the Browns are also interested in how they’ve improved the interior. Cleveland drafted Mason Graham fifth overall. He’ll work with veteran Maliek Collins, Mike Hall Jr., and others on the inside. The goal is that their impact will benefit Garrett and the other pass-rushers on the outside.
“Our ability to win inside this game will go a long way toward a victory. Because the ball moves so quickly, the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. “Those guys are closer to the play,” Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz stated. “So those people should step up for us. They must win those matchups. And when we play at our best, our defensive line serves as our engine.”
The Browns are 5.5-point home underdogs to the Bengals. That figure is expected to rise if Garrett is unavailable.
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