Browns Get Good News on Star Defender Before Vikings Game

As Myles Garrett goes, so too goes the Cleveland Browns defense.

So with the Browns headed across the pond for a date with the Minnesota Vikings — who have made themselves at home in Great Britain — and starting a rookie quarterback, they took their defensive heart and soul was removed from the team’s injured list for Week 5.

Garrett, of course, is the third-highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL and has been his usual dominant self this season. Yet, he has been limited and listed as questionable on Cleveland’s injury report for its game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday with an ankle injury.

Myles Garrett: ‘You’d Have to Kill Me to Keep Me From’ Playing Sunday

It was surprising to the Browns and fans when Garrett showed up on Cleveland’s injury report after missing practice Wednesday. It was a bit alarming when head coach Kevin Sefanski called him “day to day.”

Yet, Garrett rarely misses games — he has not suited up for just 10 games in his nine-season NFL career and none since sitting out Week 18 of the 2023 NFL season after the Browns had already clinched a playoff berth.

So when asked if he would be out on the field in London, Garrett said he would be out there, albeit in dramatic fashion.

“I’m a never say die, kind of guy,” Garrett said in his Friday press conference. “So you’d have to kill me to keep me from being on the field. Pretty much.”

Myles Garrett Could Be In Line For a Huge Game Against the Vikings

Garrett leads the NFL in tackles for loss (8) and has four of Cleveland’s 11 sacks this season. His four sacks are as many as two teams, the Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens, and twice as many sacks as the Carolina Panthers have this season.

Garrett nearly singlehandedly stole the Browns’ Week 1 game against the Cincinnati Bengals — he had four tackles for loss and two sacks in Cleveland’s 17-16 loss. He had a similar impact in Cleveland’s 13-10 win over the Green Bay Packers last weekend, with a half-sack and six tackles in its lone win in Week 3.

But even though the Vikings are 2-2, they have allowed the most sacks allowed in the NFL (18). Plus, they will again be starting backup quarterback Carson Wentz — starter J.J. McCarthy was ruled out by the Vikings for the third straight game.

Wentz was sacked six times by the Pittsburgh Steelers in Minnesota’s 24-21 loss in Dublin, Ireland on Sunday. Wentz and the Minnesota offense will also be without three starting offensive linemen due to injury — right tackle Brian O’Neill, center Ryan Kelly and left guard Donovan Jackson.

The Vikings will also be forced to go with the No. 3 center on its depth chart, Blake Brandel, since backup center Michael Jurgens was also ruled out — though Garrett is still keeping his mind right, especially going against left tackle Christian Darrisaw.

“I gotta prepare as if their [whole] starting line was out there,” Garrett said. “Last I checked, one of the highest-paid tackles, was out there and playing some good ball. So I had to be at my very best and make sure the guys around me are doing the same.”

Garrett and the rest of the Browns defense will likely need to have a huge impact, with rookie Dillon Gabriel at quarterback in place of veteran Joe Flacco, who was benched earlier this week.

Daniel Jones Breaks Top-10 Greatness with Colts

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones has had a great start to his first year in the Circle City. Despite falling in a dramatic tilt against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 4, his four-game sample with Shane Steichen has been unlike anything anyone expected before the season started.

Jones now sets his eyes on a golden opportunity to help the Colts return to the win column against the Las Vegas Raiders, who rank 21st in the NFL in passing yards allowed with 913. Given how well Jones has played, this is a game where he can shine.

Pro Football Focus' Nick Akridge put together his QB ranking ahead of Week 5, showing immense respect to Jones by placing him eighth overall. Jones is among names like Justin Herbert (9) and Josh Allen (7).

Below are some prominent quarterback metrics from Jones, along with his rank in the NFL for each. These numbers display how effective the former sixth-overall pick has been through four games with the Colts.

-Passing Yards | 1,078 (3rd)

-Completion Percentage | 71.9 (4th)

-Completions | 87 (tied - 9th)

-QBR | 79.1 (1st)

-Passer Rating | 103.3 (8th)

After six seasons of consistently underwhelming performances with the New York Giants, Steichen has Jones playing better than he's ever shown in his veteran career under center.

Jones' career resurgence is reminiscent of what Sam Darnold (now with the Seattle Seahawks) accomplished last year with the Minnesota Vikings. Darnold's career was nothing short of a pure dumpster fire with the hapless New York Jets franchise.

However, once Darnold was under the tutelage of a true QB whisperer like Kevin O'Connell, he found incredible rhythm. Darnold finished 2024 with 35 touchdown passes, 4,319 passing yards, a 66.2 completion percentage, and a Pro Bowl nomination.

Now, Jones is doing the same with a QB-savvy coach like Steichen and Indianapolis.

For Jones to have gone from what he was perceived as in New York, to one of the NFL's most efficient quarterback is a testament to the talent he had the entire time, and Steichen's ability to mold those attributes into a great signal-caller.

If Jones can be as consistent as he's been through the young 2025 season for the rest of it, he'll conclude as a potential Comeback Player of the Year candidate. Jones has season totals of seven all-purpose scores (four passing, three rushing) and a great ability to spread the wealth in the offense.

Jones has become a great leader for Steichen's offense and has gelled with players like Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs, Alec Pierce, and Tyler Warren. Along with an impressive offensive line, Jones is playing comfortably, confidently, and like a winner.

Anything can happen in the NFL week-to-week, but Jones has a great matchup on paper ahead against the struggling Raiders at home. If he can get a victory while playing turnover-free and clean football, he'll regain the momentum the team lost against the Rams.

 

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