Rookie defensive end Myles Garrett, who spent the past week in the NFL's concussion protocol, returned to practice Tuesday afternoon before the Browns receive a brief respite during their bye week.
Garrett, the first-overall NFL Draft pick, expressed frustration at injuries that have sidelined him for five of his first eight games and another that happened during offseason workouts.
"It's rough because there's a feeling helpless knowing there's nothing you can do," he said. "You've got to look at it from here and be like well, 'There's something I can work, there's something I can do better, something I can be improve while I'm healing.'"
When Garrett has been on the field, he's been a force.
The former Texas A&M star leads the team with four sacks in just three games and gives Cleveland's pass rush a noticeable edge. He shrugged off that production in interviews. "I'm not going out there to be a stat-padder," he said. "I just want to be effective ... whatever it takes to win ball games. That's what I'm worried about."
Garrett missed the first month of the season because of a high ankle sprain suffered days before the opener and then, last week, reported concussion-like symptoms after a loss to the Titans.
"I didn't really feel a specific hit shock me or stun me. It was just, I didn't really feel good after and most of my family members after the game," he said. "They took notice that night when we were at dinner, so they told me that I should probably" tell the team's medical staff.
Garrett, who said he expects to suit up when Browns play at Detroit on Nov. 12, said the bye week should give him a chance to keep getting healthy.
"I never want to miss a game, I don't ever want to be out. Whether it's practice or a game, I don't want to miss anything, but if it helps me recover I appreciate it," he said. "Just having that time to work on my ankle and strengthen it to get it back to 100 percent, I will take it, but after the bye week I should be back to my normal self."
