To an unknowing eye, Browns DE Myles Garrett might have looked like his usual self in Sunday's Week 3 loss to the New York Giants.
Garrett played just 59 percent of snaps – a season-low – but led the Browns with eight quarterback pressures. His 30.8 pressure percentage was the second-highest single-game rate in the league this year.
However dominant he looked, Garrett was limited against the Giants due to a litany of injuries, including his feet, Achilles and thigh.
"He didn't get any sacks, but he put a lot of pressure on the quarterback," defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said Thursday. "He's a warrior. He's going to go out there and give it everything he has. Anything he's able to do, he's going to go out there and do it and when he's on the field for us, he provides a big boost."
As Garrett works through the day-to-day process of dealing with his injuries, his focus remains on putting himself in the best position possible to help the 1-2 Browns get back in the win column.
Check out photos of the team working to prepare for their game this week against the Las Vegas Raiders at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
The linebackers during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Wide receiver Amari Cooper (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Fullback/Center Nick Harris (53) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson (72) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Offensive tackle Dawand Jones (79) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Safety D'Anthony Bell (37) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Defensive tackle Siaki Ika (62) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Offensive tackle Sebastian Gutierrez (60) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Cornerback Tony Brown II (38) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Offensive tackle Sebastian Gutierrez (60) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Offensive tackle Ricky Lee III (63) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Offensive tackle Roy Mbaeteka (61) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Safety D'Anthony Bell (37) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Defensive end Elerson Smith (52) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Offensive tackle Sebastian Gutierrez (60) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Linebacker Khaleke Hudson (39) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Safeties Coach Ephraim Banda during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Linebacker Michael Barrett (48) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Offensive tackle Ricky Lee III (63) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Running back Gary Brightwell (35) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Wide receiver Amari Cooper (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Pass Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach Chad O'Shea during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Offensive guard Germain Ifedi (65) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Offensive Coordinator Ken Dorsey during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Tight end Geoff Swaim (84) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach Dale Jones during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Running back Gary Brightwell (35) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Pass Game Specialist/Tight Ends Coach Tommy Rees during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Defensive end Elerson Smith (52) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Offensive Coordinator Ken Dorsey during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Garrett did not practice Wednesday but returned on Thursday in a limited capacity. He didn't practice Wednesday and Thursday of last week before returning on Friday before playing against the Giants.
The reigning Defensive Player of the Year said that using the week to recover was important in ensuring his ability to play the following Sunday.
"Just manage it as we go," Garrett said. "We have multiple days to do that. Yesterday taking some time off. Tuesday, Monday and all those days. Even right after the game Sunday, getting right on it. I try to spend every moment preparing my body for the rigors of the season, and sometimes there's some bumps and bruises like I have now."
Those around Garrett have expressed their admiration for his dedication to staying healthy and his commitment to sacrificing discomfort to continue contributing to the defense.
"I think the first step to healing is obviously your attitude, your intention and, really, your spirit, the things that you can do to uplift your spirit," LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah said Wednesday. "And from a spiritual side, I think that he's doing well. He's making sure that he doesn't get down on himself, he's staying positive and fighting through some of those injuries as well."
While Garrett's time on the field was limited compared to his snap percentage share from earlier in the season, his presence was still that of an All-Pro caliber pass rusher. In addition to his defensive snaps, special teams coordinator and assistant head coach Bubba Ventrone said he expected Garrett to continue playing on the field goal block unit.
"I think we'll still be able to use him in his roles," Ventrone said on Thursday. "All of our units are week-to-week and how we see the best matchup. So, he's been a great team player for us. Always excited about his role."
Throughout the season, teammates have compared Garrett to various elements of science fiction, calling him an "alien" or saying he was "born in a lab." On Thursday, Garrett had a different, but perhaps apt, comparison for himself.
"An injured animal is the fiercest," Garrett said. "So, I'm going to be at my best."
