The Browns have challenged Myles Garrett to reach another level. He is embracing that challenge. (TheLandOnDemand)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns and NFL analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Myles Garrett didn’t want to talk about speeding 100 mph in a 60 mph zone on I-71 in Strongsville after the team returned from a preseason Game 1 in Charlotte, NC, on the morning of August 9.
Four times Garrett declined to answer questions about his latest speeding citation – his eighth, reportedly, since joining the Browns in 2017.
Instead, he wanted to talk about how empowered he feels to be more of a leader in his ninth NFL season.
“I feel like, you know, I’ve got to continue to improve and find a way to elevate my teammates, not just myself,” Garrett said.
Can the best player on the team be considered a leader if he repeatedly speeds recklessly and can’t bring himself to say, “I was wrong. I have to be better”?
I don’t think the Browns care. As long as he keeps adding victims to his quarterback graveyard – his annual, elaborate Halloween lawn display that honors, well, himself – Garrett’s off-field foibles will be tolerated.
When the Browns signed Garrett this spring to a $160 million contract extension, which includes $123 million in guarantees, they prodded him to take his game to another level. That appears to be happening.
Garrett has dominated practices against his own team, against the Carolina Panthers, and against the Philadelphia Eagles, who field arguably the best offensive line in the NFL. The Eagles were in awe of Garrett during joint practices last week.
Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said the next step for Garrett is not another defensive player of the year award, but serious consideration for NFL most valuable player. Only two defensive players have been named league MVP – Vikings defensive tackle Alan Page in 1971 and Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor in 1986.
“I absolutely love it,” Garrett said of the organization challenging him for more. “I love that they know that there’s more out there for me. They wouldn’t say it if it wasn’t true. And I’ve thought the same thing. And it’s about me having a plan and executing it, that can beat these chips, beat these doubles and find a way to get just a few more one-on-ones and continue to increase my production.”
Higher expectations for Garrett are also based on the addition of defensive tackles Mason Graham and Maliek Collins, and the natural evolution of complementary edge rushers Alex Wright and Isaiah McGuire.
Schwartz has always said his defensive line is the engine that drives the entire defense. This edition of his first- and second-team D-lines are unquestionably the strongest in Schwartz’s three years with the Browns.
“I think the only thing that will stop us is us,” Garrett said. “As long as we run the calls that Schwartz gets out there, we’re all on the same page. I think the sky’s the limit. We just got to continue to be disciplined in our technique and what we’re called to do during that certain play and I’m happy with the progress that we’ve made and what we can do.”
Quarterback carousel
On Wednesday, Kenny Pickett was out and Shedeur Sanders was in.
Pickett returned to practice in one team period on Tuesday for the first time since suffering a strained hamstring July 26. He was held out on Wednesday, coach Kevin Stefanski said, because he won’t play in the preseason finale Saturday against the Los Angeles Rams.
“He’s fine,” Stefanski said. “A lot of this is just getting some guys ready who are playing on Saturday. Kenny’s not playing Saturday, so just getting more walkthrough-type reps.”
Sanders participated in a team period for the first time since suffering an oblique muscle strain one week ago. Stefanski described Sanders as “limited,” and was not certain if Sanders would play in the Rams game.
“[The] important part is just to find out how he comes out of today, how he felt and we’ll know more both after practice and then know more tomorrow morning,” Stefanski said. “I just don’t know yet [if he’ll play].”
Denzel update
Cornerback Denzel Ward fell on his right shoulder after breaking up a pass for Jerry Jeudy on the first one-on-one rep in Tuesday’s practice. He did not practice on Wednesday.
“Doing well,” Stefanski said. “Expect him to be out here, back out there pretty soon.”
The injury is not expected to hinder Ward from being ready for the season opener on September 7.
“He’s day to day. He’s doing well. Should be [ready],” Stefanski said.
Brownie bits
As a result of depth at defensive tackle, the Browns traded 2024 seventh-round pick Jowon Briggs and their seventh-round pick in 2026 acquired from Buffalo to the New York Jets for a sixth-round pick in 2026. The additional picks in the 2026 draft owned by the Browns now include: Jacksonville's first-round pick, sixth-round picks of Detroit and the Jets, and seventh-round pick of Seattle ...
Stefanski has given other assistant coaches play-calling opportunities in preseason games, but not this year. “Just with the young QBs, [I] want to make sure I’m giving them one voice,” he said …
For the first time all camp, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah was seen mingling with teammates on the sideline at practice. JOK will not play in 2025 due to a neck injury suffered last season. “Jeremiah is a huge part of this football team,” Stefanski said. “He’s a huge part of who we are and what we strive to be. So always fun to have him out here. He’ll be out here hopefully a good bit, but he’ll be visiting us and doing some work with us. But, yeah, we love having Jeremiah out here.” …
Besides Ward, linebacker Winston Reid (back) and receiver Cedric Tillman (thumb) were DNPs.