Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett plans to get after Bengals QB Joe Burrow.
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Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett plans to get after Bengals QB Joe Burrow.
There will be no escaping Myles Garrett for Joe Burrow on Sunday when the Cleveland Browns host the Cincinnati Bengals.
Garrett is looking to set the tone after recording 14 sacks last year — his fourth consecutive season hitting that mark. The former No. 1 overall pick finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting a year ago. He won the award in 2023.
Few quarterbacks have felt his presence more than Burrow. Garrett has dropped him nine times in just eight matchups, and he’s not expecting that trend to slow down.
Asked if Burrow might slip free this time, Garrett needed only one word.
“No,” he said.
And when pressed if anyone else could escape?
“A couple people have, but not this year,” Garrett said.
That’s not to say Garrett doesn’t respect Burrow, who led the league in passing yards last season.
“He is just very calm, very supportive of his teammates. Always see him running up to them and celebrating their success. A hell of a competitor, but not a big vocal in your face guy,” Garrett said. “And he competes. I would say he does it the right way and just has fun doing it. You can see the joy he has in playing the game, but he does it so smooth. He’s got his own style when he’s out there.”
Myles Garrett Confident in Browns Defensive Line
Some new faces will be in the mix with Garrett on the defensive line. That includes No. 5 overall pick Mason Graham, who will be looking to wreak havoc on the interior, freeing up Garrett.
“I’m excited to see the young guys go out there and ball. There’s a lot of young talent all across the board,” Garrett said. “You know, seeing Adin (Huntington) play offense and defense. Mason (Graham) getting his first snap — that’s what really gets me going. Seeing their eyes open to a new chapter in their lives and in their careers and seeing what they can really do.”
The Browns are a 5.5-point home underdog for the matchup. There aren’t high expectations around Cleveland this season, but the Browns can begin to change that narrative by beating the Bengals out of the gate.
“It sets the tone,” Garrett said. “You want to set the year off right. We’ve got to go out and establish a standard and the direction of the team early.”
Browns Star Myles Garrett Clears Up Injury Scare
Garrett sat out Thursday’s practice with what the Browns labeled a hip injury, sparking concern he might miss the opener. By Friday, though, all doubt was erased. Garrett was left off the final injury report and is set to be a full go against the Bengals.
“Had some pain yesterday,” Garrett said. “I’m good today.”
The star pass-rusher enters his ninth NFL season, perhaps his most pivotal yet. After a tense offseason that saw him request a trade, Garrett ultimately landed a four-year, $160 million extension that briefly made him the league’s highest-paid non-quarterback.
Now, with his future secured, he’ll look to set the tone right out of the gate.