CLEVELAND — Less than two weeks after being added to the NFL's reserve/COVID-19 list, it appears that Cleveland Browns star defensive end Myles Garrett is poised to make his return.
On Monday, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski revealed that Garrett is "on track" to be activated from the league's reserve/COVID-19 list -- which was created for players who have either tested positive for or have been exposed to the coronavirus -- as early as Wednesday.
Garrett's potential return would provide a big boost to a Cleveland defense heading into one of its toughest matchups of the season against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. In Derrick Henry, the Titans lay claim to the NFL's leading rusher, as well as a formidable passing attack headlined by quarterback Ryan Tannehill and wide receivers A.J. Brown and Corey Davis.
Prior to being placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Nov. 20, Garrett was enjoying an NFL Defensive Player of the Year-caliber season. In nine games, the No. 1 pick of the 2017 NFL Draft tallied a league-high 9.5 sacks and four forced fumbles, including multiple game-altering plays that helped the Browns get off to a 6-3 start.
While Cleveland won both of its games without Garrett in the lineup, his absence, as well as cornerback Denzel Ward's absence, in the Browns' 27-25 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday didn't go unnoticed. To that end, Stefanski revealed that Ward will likely miss Sunday's matchup against Tennessee as he continues to recover from a calf injury.