Myles Garrett could play his first game Sunday since his high-speed car accident. (Cleveland Browns)
The Chargers initiated these Browns defensive meltdowns one year ago
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Takeaways from Browns practice and interviews …
How fitting that the Chargers are the Browns’ next opponent.
They’re the ones who initiated these maddening meltdowns in the fourth quarter by the Browns’ defense.
In Game 5 last season, the Browns entered the fourth quarter in SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles with a 27-21 lead over the Chargers.
They lost, 47-42, as the Chargers scored 26 points in the fourth quarter. In that 15 game minutes of football, the Chargers clobbered the Browns with pass plays of 42, 37, 19 and 29 yards. The Browns added an unjust defensive pass interference penalty for an additional 33 yards.
The fourth-quarter frolics continued through the season. Only one game henceforth did the Browns hold an opponent to zero points in the fourth quarter. And that was Christmas Day against the Packers, who were tired from returning four Baker Mayfield interceptions in the first half.
With the Chargers playing in Cleveland on Sunday, the Browns have come full circle.
Through four games this season, they lead the league with 50 points allowed in the fourth quarter. They’ve given up 17 to Carolina, 17 to the Jets, three to Pittsburgh and 13 to Atlanta.
As a point of reference, the defending AFC champion Bengals have allowed just 12 points in the entire second half – six in the third quarter and six in the fourth.
“We’re pretty bad in the fourth quarter right now. That’s not what a great team does,” said safety Grant Delpit. “Just staying locked in for 60 minutes and just having that killer mentality. We have a standard to uphold if we want to be a top-five or No. 1 defense. We have to stick together and play four quarters."
John Johnson, the other starting safety, tries his best to answer questions about the demoralizing play of the defense. But even the affable Johnson is baffled by the repeated fourth-quarter failures this season.
“I can’t really put my finger on it,” he said. “I know you get the team’s best effort in the fourth quarter and you have to match that intensity.
“They get paid too. They’re gonna make some plays. But the moments in games that we give these plays up can’t happen. It’s a game-winning drive or to ice a game or for a team to come back on us. We can’t give those up. Certain moments we just have to tighten up.”
Just their luck that Justin Herbert shows up at this time, right?
A year ago, Herbert threw for 398 yards and four touchdowns in the Chargers’ win. In the fourth quarter alone, Herbert was 12 of 17 for 209 yards and two TDs.
“I think they’re No. 1 in passing, so if there’s a game that you’ve got to get up for and be locked in for, it’s this one,” Johnson said. “We’ve had some flashes of good things. I think each and every play we have to be locked in or we are going to get torched because they’ve been doing it to anybody dating back to last year, too.”
Herbert is only the first gunslinger of a gauntlet to come. It continues in succession with Mac Jones (if healthy), Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, Tua Tagovailoa, Josh Allen and Tom Brady.
Yikes.
Myles is back
Myles Garrett, who drives cars real fast, returned to practice for the first time since he rolled his Porsche into a ditch on a Medina County two-lane road and sustained shoulder and bicep injuries.
Garrett was in good spirits, winking to cameras and skipping through calisthenics with media present. The Browns listed Garrett as limited in practice, which usually means he participated only in individual drills. But his demeanor suggested he could be available to play Sunday against the Chargers.
The same can’t be said of Jadeveon Clowney, who remained out with an ankle injury. Clowney injured the ankle in the third quarter of the Game 2 against the Jets. He has not practiced in 2 ½ weeks.
Greedy is back
Cornerback Greedy Williams participated in his first practice since suffering a freak hamstring injury in a practice prior to the season opener.
Williams opened the season on injured reserve and was designated for return on Wednesday. He could be activated at the end of the week.
The hard-luck Williams missed his entire second season in 2020 with a nerve condition in a shoulder. That was the year the Browns made the playoffs and won a wild card game in Pittsburgh. Williams rebounded to play every game in 2021, but now he’s battling to come back once again.
“It’s kind of hard [dealing with repeated injuries],” Williams said. “You sit and you’re thinking, ‘Why does it keep happening to me?’ I realize it is what it is. The medical staff, they’re great, and they uplift me as well.
“I wouldn’t call it a jinx. I’d just say it’s another chapter in the book, man. Just come back and be better and prove what I can do.”
It’s ironic the Chargers game could be the first for Williams to play in 2022. In last year’s 47-42 slugfest, Williams led the Browns with 10 tackles and had a pass breakup and a forced fumble.
“That’s my dude, man,” Delpit said. “I’m happy for him coming off injury. I know that’s tough. Nobody wants to be hurt. Everybody wants to be on the field. It’s gonna be good for him to be back out there with his brothers. He had a good game last year against the Chargers, so hopefully he can pick up where he left off.”
Williams knows this is an important year for him. He’ll be a free agent after the season. The Browns greased the skids for his departure by drafting M.J. Emerson in the 2022 draft. His Browns career probably is down to 13 games.
“Like I said, [it’s] my last year, my fourth year, so you definitely got to lock in more,” Williams said. “[These last 13 games] are a grind, man. Every game’s important. The games I missed were important. I’m just … I’m ready to play. I’m happy, feel good. I’m just ready to go.”
Brownie bits
The Browns signed tight end Pharaoh Brown, who was with the team in 2018-19. The Lyndhurst-native was released this week by the Houston Texans despite leading their tight ends with seven catches for 72 yards. Brown’s signing might have something to do with Harrison Bryant missing Wednesday’s practice with an undisclosed illness …
Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen did not practice. He has missed three games with a hamstring injury and is not expected to play Sunday …
With defensive end Joey Bosa on the shelf with a groin tear, Khalil Mack (five sacks) looms as the No. 1 pass rush threat on the Chargers. It’s amazing to trace the history of these great players and how they escaped the clutches of the Browns. Mack played at Buffalo University. The Browns had hired Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Mike Pettine as their head coach on Jan. 23, 2014. Pettine returned to Buffalo to clean out his office and attended Mack’s pro day workout. Alas, Mack was drafted fifth overall by the Raiders and the Browns ended up with Justin Gilbert and Johnny Manziel with their two picks in the first round. “He is a great player,” said Kevin Stefanski. “He is very, very powerful. Has unbelievable bend. Plays hard. Very, very good at rushing the passer, as we all know. Has multiple moves. In the run game, can win at the point of attack and can win as a chase player. He is a big part of their defense. Khalil Mack is a great player.”
