Browns Notes: Myles Garrett returns to practice, hopes Mac Jones isn’t an “ankle grabber” with team sack record in sight

BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Browns defensive end Myles Garrett is expected to play Sunday at New England after missing two practices this week to rest a sore foot.

Garrett, who leads the NFL with 12 sacks this season, returned to work Friday.

“I think he will be OK,” Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said. “He was sore, but he looked good.”

Garrett suffered the injury during last week’s 41-16 victory over the Bengals in Cincinnati.

“I am a little bit sore. I am good,” Garrett said. “Just kind of rolled my foot weird in the game – I think at the end of the third [quarter]. It was really out of an abundance of caution. I probably could have gone the last two days, but there was no point of fighting through pain to practice when I can get a good practice today and get in the playbook to know exactly what I am going to do and go out there fresh. I do not think I have any lingering effects.”

While Garrett doesn’t seem too concerned, he is worried about the possibility of Patriots quarterback Mac Jones making it worse.

Video of the Patriots rookie quarterback being caught grabbing and twisting the ankle of Panthers defensive end Brian Burns last week went viral this week, drawing outrage and calls for Jones to be disciplined for a dirty play.

“Of course, I watched it,” Garrett said. “I will hold my comments on that one. Hopefully, it does not happen to me. I do not know. Is he going to turn into the ankle grabber? I do not know. We will see.”

Garrett looks to avoid putting himself in harms way should he encounter Jones.

“Now I know to get my behind up and get out of the way,” Garrett said.

Garrett is just two sacks shy of tying Reggie Camp’s single season record of 14. The 2017 No. 1 pick’s career high is 13 1/2 in 2018 but with a return to the playoffs hanging in the balance, his focus is elsewhere right now.

“It kind of feels like something I should have passed a while ago, but for whatever reason I haven’t,” Garrett said. “I feel like it’s kinda just on the way to the place I want to go, the places we want to go. We do this together as a team, I couldn’t get there without the rest of my defense supporting me and the complementary football we play on the defensive side of the ball. If we all play well together, then individuals will shine and right now we’re shining together.”

Bark along – The upstart Cavs are winning – and barking while they do it.

The team barks before and after practice, before tipoff, and following victories to signify their underdog mentality according to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com.

The team posted video of players and head coach J.B. Bickerstaff barking on their twitter account Friday.

“The more the merrier,” Garrett said. “We’ve got to get the Indians on this next.”

Garrett was playfully embarred when he was reminded the Indians are changing their name to Guardians for the 2022 season but he hopes they join in too.

The Browns bark dates back to the 1980s thanks to former cornerbacks Hanford Dixon and Frank Minnifield. Dixon called the Browns defense “Dawgs” in 1985 and the duo nicknamed the bleachers at Cleveland Municipal Stadium the ‘Dawg Pound.’

The Cavs are off to a 7-5 start and have not had a winning season in the seven previous seasons they played without LeBron James.

JOK still TBD – While there is optimism that rookie linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah will return from injured reserve and play Sunday, that remains to be seen.

Stefanski indicated that the Browns will wait until Saturday to make that determination.

The team has until 4 p.m. eastern to activate Owusu-Koramoah, who has missed the last three games due to a high ankle sprain.

Pats RBs questionable – The Patriots could be without two of their running backs Sunday as well.

Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson did not practice this week while in concussion protocol but are listed as questionable Sunday.

“They have a really good run attack. It is very physical,” Stefanski said. “They can go downhill and run ISO. They run quite a bit of draw and crack-toss. It is a very physical front. I think they use their running backs oftentimes interchangeably, and they do a very nice job of that.”

Harris averages 4.1 yards per carry and leads New England with seven touchdowns this season.

Crowded field – Last week’s win returned the Browns to the thick of the AFC playoff picture, but they face another must win at New England Sunday.

If the playoffs were to begin today the Browns would not be in the field. The Patriots are currently the No. 7 and final seed. With such a tight field, tiebreakers become that much more important.

Including Thursday night’s Ravens loss at Miami, the AFC playoff standings look like this: 1. Tennessee (7-2), 2. Baltimore (6-3), 3. Los Angeles (5-3), 4. Buffalo (5-3), 5. Las Vegas (5-3), 6. Pittsburgh (5-3), 7. New England (5-4), 8. Kansas City (5-4), 9. Cleveland (5-4), 10. Cincinnati (5-4).

Quote of the day – “Hopefully, this will help Bitonio not have to do any more commercials.” Browns offensive line coach bill Callahan joking about left guard Joel Bitonio’s contract extension.

Injury report – OUT: DE Takkarist McKinley (groin); QUESTIONABLE: CB Greedy Williams (shoulder); EXPECTED TO PLAY: WR Donovan Peoples Jones (personal), C J.C. Tretter (knee), DE Myles Garrett (foot), DT Malik Jackson (knee), WR Jarvis Landry (knee), TE Harrison Bryant (thigh), DE Jadeveon Clowney (ankle, knee), QB Baker Mayfield (left shoulder, foot)

Up next – Browns at Patriots Sunday at 1 p.m.