Browns star Garrett on COVID list, out for Eagles
CLEVELAND – Myles Garrett has been slowed down just when the Browns need him most.
Cleveland’s dynamic star defensive end and the NFL’S leader in sacks will miss Sunday’s game against Philadelphia – and maybe more – after testing positive for COVID-19, dealing the Browns a major blow as they try to end an 18-year playoff drought.
“He is a good player,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Friday. “We know that. We do not want to be without him, but we are.”
The Browns (6-3) won’t have Garrett against the Eagles and there’s no predicting when he’ll be back. According to league rules, a player who tests positive for coronavirus can’t return to the team until at least 10 days after the onset of symptoms, plus at least 24 hours after symptoms have passed.
Garrett stayed home from practice on Wednesday and Thursday because he was showing symptoms. After facing the Eagles (3-5-1), the Browns will visit Jacksonville on Nov. 29.
Stefanski said he wasn’t sure exactly when Garrett first began experiencing coronavirus symptoms, which would trigger the start to a timeline for his return.
The first-year coach added he doesn’t know when Garrett will be available.
“I would not speculate at this point,” he said. “But I think as the days go by here we will know a little bit more.”
On Thursday, Stefanski anticipated Garrett being back on Friday. However, when the positive result came back, the team followed league-mandated protocols and placed the soon-to-be 25year-old on the list, which ruled him out for at least the Philadelphia game.
Garrett, who has 91/2 sacks and has made a major play in each of Cleveland’s six wins, won’t get a chance to pad his stats against an Eagles offensive line that has allowed quarterback Carson Wentz to be sacked a leagueleading 35 times.
The Browns will use a rotation of players to replace the irreplaceable Garrett.
Adrian Clayborn and rookie Porter Gustin figure to get snaps at end, and tackle Sheldon Richardson may slide to the outside.