Browns' Myles Garrett Downplays Achilles Injury: 'An Injured Animal Is the Fiercest'

On the one hand, Cleveland Browns fans should maybe be worried that star pass-rusher Myles Garrett missed practice Wednesday because he is dealing with Achilles, thigh, and ankle issues.

On the other hand, he sounds like he's going to be more than ready to go for Sunday's game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

"I try to spend every moment preparing my body for the rigors of the season," Garrett told reporters Thursday. "Sometimes, [I have] some bumps and bruises like I have right now. So, an injured animal is the fiercest, so I'm going to be at my best."

He also dismissed the notion that he could cause further damage by continuing to play.

"I feel like I have the right people around me, have the right training staff here to make sure that everything is pretty stable for the rest of the season," he said. "So, I'm not too worried."

The reigning Defensive Player of the Year tallied a sack in each of the first two games of the season against the Dallas Cowboys and Jacksonville Jaguars. While he had three quarterback hits in Week 3's loss to the New York Giants, he didn't pick up a sack and had to leave the game at times.

Cleveland needs him on the field and performing well if it is going to put its 1-2 start in the rearview mirror. A game against the 1-2 Raiders is a solid place to start.

Las Vegas gave up three sacks to the previously winless Carolina Panthers and struggled at times on both sides of the ball. Garrett is better than any of the Panthers' pass-rushers and arguably better than any other pass-rusher in the league, so he should be able to get to Gardner Minshew if he's healthy enough to play.

And it sounds like he's going to be at his "fiercest" when he does take the field.