BEREA, Ohio _ One hundred sixty-four days will have passed from the time the Browns drafted defensive end Myles Garrett and his regular-season NFL debut Sunday against the visiting New York Jets.
The No. 1 overall pick hopes to commemorate the occasion with a sack.
"I'd love to," he said Friday. "It's special. It's like a fat guy's touchdown. But whatever I can do to affect the game and just be a helping hand for this defense, if we can just help get a win on this field, I'll do whatever I can, whatever that takes."
Garrett missed the first four games of the season with the right high-ankle sprain he suffered during practice Sept. 6 when a teammate inadvertently fell into his leg. In the meantime, the Browns went 0-4, a drought they desperately need to end against the 2-2 Jets.
Now the wait for the player they're counting on to ultimately transform their defense is coming to an end. Garrett is back.
"It is exciting, not only for myself and our coaching staff, but for him and for his teammates," said coach Hue Jackson, who explained earlier this week Garrett's snaps will be limited as he comes off an injury. "They want to get him out there playing. They know that he brings something to the table for our football team, and we are looking for any spark, opportunity, somebody that can continue to raise the bar for our team. That is what we need."
Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams revealed Garrett actually thought he could have played this past weekend in a 31-7 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, but the Browns decided against rushing him back.
"Now, hopefully, he will be more productive, and it is a much more healthy way to continue on," Williams said. "... He really has had a very good week. There has been a really good look in his eye."
Garrett admitted the build-up to his first real game has been nerve-wracking.
"But it's just about maintaining your focus," said Garrett, whose parents will travel from their home in Arlington, Texas, to attend the game at FirstEnergy Stadium. "Don't make the moment bigger than it is.
"It is exciting. I am ready to play, ready to show what I can do."
Although the cold Garrett had last week has cleared up, he admitted his ankle still isn't 100 percent healthy.
"Am I peak? No, but it's good enough for me," he said. "I can move, I can run, I can bend, and if I can do that, I can be out there and I can make a difference."
The Browns are eager for it.
"He looks like himself," linebacker Christian Kirksey said. "He is a guy that is flying around. Just watching him come off the ball, he is so explosive. I can't wait to see him actually go out there and get some snaps and just let him let loose."
