Browns’ Garrett to miss game due to COVID-19
The Cleveland Browns’ great misfortune is a lucky break for the Eagles.
Browns star defensive end Myles Garrett, the NFL leader with 9.5 sacks, will be sidelined Sunday when the Browns host the Eagles at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Garrett has tested positive for COVID-19, staying home from Wednesday’s practice when he began experiencing symptoms. According to the league’s current “Intensive Protocol” status, he must remain inactive for at least 10 days, meaning he’ll miss the home game against the Eagles and is at least questionable for the Browns’ next game in Jacksonville.
The Browns are 6-3, their best start in an eternity or so. They have not made the playoffs since 2002. This year, however, they represent a huge challenge for the
3-5-1 Eagles, who lead the NFC East by mere percentage points and are coming off a flop of a return from a bye with a 27-17 loss to the New York Giants.
Carson Wentz didn’t turn the ball over in that game, oddly enough, but he does rank as the league leader in sacks taken (35), interceptions (12), and is tied for second in fumbles lost (4).
As any Eagles offensive lineman would be quick to admit, that has much to do with problems and injuries on the offensive line all season long. The Eagles will be getting Isaac Seumalo back at left guard this week, and the absence of Garrett should be that much more of a boost.
Not that Doug Pederson would admit to that, of course.
“It’s just like us,” the Eagles coach said. “It’s next guy steps up, next guy has to play, next guy is going to be prepared (for them) and he’s going to play hard,” Pederson said Friday. “Listen, there’s 10 other guys on that defense that can also play and it’s a good defense and we have to be ready. We have to be focused and dialed in on what we’re doing.”
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NOTES » While Pederson fully expects to see Seumalo in the starting lineup, he hedged on the thought of tight end Zach Ertz being back. “Zach probably needs
a little more time right,” Pederson said. “But we’ll get him back out there today and run him around again and see where he’s at. But this was a good week for him. Much like Isaac was last week, to get him back out there and running around with the team was good. We’ll see at the end of the day how he feels before we make that determination.” ... Pederson said receiver Alshon Jeffery, who played for the first time this season last week, is looking a little more comfortable. “Each day he goes out on the practice field he gains confidence,” Pederson said. “Limited role last week we hope to expand that a little bit more this week and get him some more opportunities.”