Myles Garrett good to go for opener, hopes to set tone for season

Myles Garrett was back at practice Friday after hip pain sidelined him Thursday, participated fully and declared himself "ready to go."So Garrett will be on the field Sunday at 1 o'clock when the Browns open the season against the Bengals at Huntington Bank Field. The four-time first-team All-Pro defensive end will once again go against left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. — and a sea of double and triple teams — in an effort to take down Pro Bowler and 2024 NFL passing leader Joe Burrow, whom he's sacked nine times.Browns Preview 2025: Joe Flacco's still got the technique — and hopefully a little more left in the tank"It sets the tone," Garrett told reporters Friday in Berea. "You want to set the year off right and we've got to go out and establish the standard and the direction of the team early."That Garrett is going through his normal Week 1 routine with the Browns is worth noting. Seven months ago he publicly requested a trade, stating the Browns weren't in position to win and he wanted to play for a Super Bowl contender. The Browns didn't budge, and Garrett eventually signed a four-year, $160 million extension that set an NFL record for a non-quarterback.The handling of the delicate situation is relevant again after the Cowboys traded All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons to the Packers last week after a long contract dispute that included Parsons not practicing during training camp. The Packers gave him a four-year, $187 million contract that blew away the previous record for a defensive player.Garrett explained why he was able to come to a resolution with the Browns.Zone Coverage Podcast"Well, I mean, I wasn't sleeping on the training table during games," he said. "Him and I went at it in two very different ways and this wasn't a relationship I wanted to ruin. There was always a potential of me being back in this same spot, which I am now."I don't think that's what he wanted after no discussions with Jerry (Jones, Cowboys owner) and some of the other people, especially without his agent being present. I feel like that seemed like a show of disrespect, the way they were handling the situation, and I think the way ours was handled was a bit more respectful all around."Garrett was asked if he feels a sense of pride for being the first defender to reach an average of $40 million a year. His contract was followed by T.J. Watt getting $123 million over three years ($41 million a year) from the Steelers, then Parson resetting the bar at $46.75 million a year."I share a sense of pride with some of the guys I've been able to talk to, especially Micah," Garrett said. "Him and I had the opportunity to talk through the process and I'm just happy to see him be somewhere he's happy and go out there and have opportunity to play meaningful games. He just wants to play at a high level, compete for a Super Bowl and go for the Defensive Player of the Year. So I'm happy to see that for him. Know he's a helluva talent."Browns Preview 2025: Things might not be as dire as predictedGarrett, 29, seems to be past the offseason drama. He's talked a lot about taking a larger leadership role and helping the Browns to the Super Bowl by having his best year. That's a high bar, as Garrett was the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year in 2023 and had a franchise-record 16 sacks in 2021 and '22.While he joined Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor as the only players since 1982 with 12 sacks in five straight seasons, he's never led the league in a season. Cincinnati's Trey Hendrickson did that last year with 17.5, while Garrett had 14."It's not me vs. Trey, so I don't think about it like that," Garrett said on an individual matchup. "I want to be the best player on the field. I plan to lead the league in sacks and it's not like he's pass blocking against me."In eight games against Burrow, Garrett has sacked him nine times with 19 quarterback hits, three passes defensed and two forced fumbles. The Browns are 5-3.Burrow has felt Garrett's presence and impact."He can win the game if you let him," Burrow told reporters in Cincinnati. "You have to, No. 1, game-plan around him. No. 2, as a quarterback, you have to be aware of where he's at at all times with protection IDs and also know where your quick answer is in whatever concept you have called. Because sometimes he's back there before you can catch the ball, basically, and you have to get it out."But we play great rushers a lot. He's one of the best, if not the best. But in this division, you play guys like that a lot. We'll have a good plan for him. He's going to make plays. And when he does, you gotta hold onto the ball and not make a bad play worse."Garrett missing practice Thursday with the hip injury surely made Browns fans nervous. But Garrett has missed practice before with a variety of injuries, of different severities, and almost always plays. Since the start of the 2021 season, Garrett his missed one game with an injury, and that was after a one-car accident."Had some pain yesterday. I'm good today," he said."Myles is extremely competitive," coach Kevin Stefanski said earlier in the week. "He treats all the games the same. He just loves to compete, and we'll need him. He's obviously a huge part of who we are. He's a huge part of our team. He's a huge part of our defense. And affecting the game typically is something that gives us a chance."The post Myles Garrett good to go for opener, hopes to set tone for season first appeared on BrownsZone with Scott Petrak.