The Cleveland Browns received some bad news days before they open their season against the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday. The team announced that rookie pass rusher Myles Garrett will not play against the Steelers after suffering a high ankle sprain. The Browns said the No. 1 overall pick will be evaluated in two weeks. The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported that Garrett suffered the injury after a teammate stepped on the side of his right ankle. “Somebody got thrown into the back of his leg,” Browns coach Hue Jackson replied when asked about Garrett’s injury.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network Insider said high ankle sprains need four to six weeks of recovery time. During June's mini-camp, Garrett suffered a foot injury, but he recovered just in time for training camp. Garrett has had foot issues dating back to his stint at Texas A&M, suffering a high ankle sprain during his final college season.
Browns release safety Calvin Pryor
Rapoport reported that the Browns released safety Calvin Pryor after he was involved in a fight with a teammate before Thursday’s practice. The move was later confirmed by Jackson. Mike Garafolo of NFL Network said the 25-year-old Pryor was involved in a fight with second-year receiver Ricardo Louis. It was an abrupt ending to Pryor’s stint with the Browns, who acquired him by sending linebacker Demario Davis to the New York Jets in June.
With Pryor gone, the Browns will start Derrick Kindred together with first-round safety Jabril Peppers in their secondary. They will go up against quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who has dominated the Browns in his career with 20 wins against Cleveland. Roethlisberger has tallied 5,490 passing yards and 35 touchdowns against the Browns.
Jackson lauds Browns’ 4-0 preseason record
The Browns finished the preseason with a 4-0 mark after a 25-0 rout of the Chicago Bears Thursday. They became the first Cleveland squad to accomplish the record since 1986. Jackson credited their unbeaten run to the different mentality of his players. “They accomplished something that hadn't been done in 31 years, which is to be 4-0 and that's a credit to them,” said Jackson, who finished last season with a 1-19 mark, including the preseason.
Jackson also mentioned the outstanding play of rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer, who was recently installed as the team’s starting signal-caller. Last season’s starter Cody Kessler will serve as backup. Aside from the Browns, the Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos, and the Seattle Seahawks finished the preseason with 4-0 marks.
