Garrett provides ray of hope for Browns D
No. 1 overall draft pick records sack on his first play.
As the Browns CLEVELAND — teased the FirstEnergy Stadium crowd with the possibility of a win no, seriously
— — before suffering yet another defeat, rookie defensive end Myles Garrett offered a ray of hope and a possible glimpse into the future.
Garrett, the No. 1 overall selection from Texas A&M in last April’s NFL Draft, made his regular-season debut in the team’s 17-14 loss to the New York Jets Sunday and delivered two quarterback sacks, one coming on his first play.
According to Pro Football Focus, Garrett was on the field for 18 plays and finished with two sacks and two run stops.
Garrett didn’t start, but he entered the game on the Jets’ first third down. He lined up at three-technique, rushed between left guard James Carpenter and center Wesley Johnson and sacked quarterback Josh McCown for an 8-yard loss.
“It was just a great call by [defensive coordinator] Gregg [Williams], sending me inside,” Garrett said. “[Carpenter] jumps at me, and I was just able to put a move on and make the play.”
It didn’t escape him that the big play came on his first official snap in an NFL regular-season game.
“A teammate said if they had a book or a movie script, it’s ‘First Play, First Sack,’ but to me I’m just trying to make an impact for my team and give them the best chance to win,” Garrett said.
On the second sack, Garrett rushed from the right defensive end position and drew a double team from Jets tight end Eric Tomlinson and running back Elijah Powell. He pushed back just enough on them both, spun out of the block and grabbed McCown by the ankles to upend him.
With those two sacks, Garrett entered the NFL record books, becoming the only No. 1 overall pick to have multiple sacks in his NFL debut and the first to have at least one since Indianapolis Colts defensive lineman Steve Emtman in 1992. Defensive lineman Charles Buchanan was the last Brown to record multiple sacks in his debut in 1988 when he recorded 2.5.
Garrett had been sidelined since a teammate landed on his right leg during a Sept. 6 practice, causing a high ankle sprain. He missed the first four games of the season.
His team felt his impact, however.
“His presence is clearly evident, even to the little that we’re playing him right now until he’s ready to go full-go for a whole game,” safety Jabrill Peppers said. “That opens up a lot of things for a lot of people.”
It was enough for McCown, a former Browns quarterback, to take notice.
“He looks the part,” McCown said. “I think that’s important when you are building something, especially when you hold the first overall pick to pick guys that look the part and can go out and do what you pick them to do. I think they are in good hands when he gets healthy.”
That’s the key for Garrett — being completely healthy.
“He was supposed to play a little bit,” Browns coach Hue Jackson said of Garrett. “We had him on a pitch count. I think that was important.”
When he arrived at his locker to do postgame interviews, Garrett didn’t walk with a discernible limp, but he did look like a guy who was tired. He said the ankle injury bothered him as the game wore on.
“Still recovering from that high-ankle sprain, so it’s wearing on me,” he said. “But just going to go back and keep on getting treatment done, and the more time goes by the less it will affect me.”
Even at less than 100 percent, Garrett displayed a high-revving motor. After his second sack, it took over and he honored Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith with his celebration.
“His energy was outstanding,” Jackson said of Garrett. “I know there was a couple plays he made early in the game, which were great. We have to keep growing with that with him.”