Browns quick hits: Myles Garrett back at practice after missing Falcons loss due to accident

BEREA − Myles Garrett was on the field for the Browns during Wednesday's practice, a sign the All-Pro defensive end may be close to returning for Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Garrett missed last Sunday's game at Atlanta while he recovered from injuries sustained in a one-car accident on Sept. 26. He sustained what has been reported as a sprained AC joint in his left shoulder and a right biceps strain, along with various cuts, in the accident.

"He'll be out there," coach Kevin Stefanski said prior to practice. "We'll see how it goes. But he'll be out there."

Garrett, who was wearing an compression sleeve on his right arm, walked onto the practice field at the same time reporters were allowed into watch. He then took his time getting his shoulder pads on, although he didn't show any outward signs of pain as someone assisted him with the process.

During stretching , Garrett was smiling and chatting with linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. He even winked at the cameras while jogging past during one plyometric drill.

Garrett did not travel to Atlanta with the Browns, who officially ruled him out the day before the game. He stayed home to rest on Wednesday following the accident, and then only went through meetings on Thursday and Friday.

Browns roster:Defense feels effects of being without Myles Garrett, Jadeveon Clowney

Stefanski did not minimize what having Garrett back on the practice field, even in a limited capacity, meant for the Browns.

"Good to have Myles, just even in the walk-through," Stefanski said. "Just having his presence and having him in the meetings. He's a big part of what we do. Good to have him out there."

There was no doubting what Garrett's absence meant to the Browns in the loss to the Falcons. That's especially true when coupled with what they were also missing at the other end with Jadeveon Clowney still sidelined after suffering an ankle injury in the third quarter of the loss to the New York Jets on Sept. 18.

Stefanski was non-committal on a return to the field for Clowney, who did not practice again on Wednesday. All he would say is "I hope so" when asked if he thought the All-Pro defensive end would practice at some point this week.

“Yeah, I think they’re both on two different progressions and we’ll treat them as such," Stefanski said, "see how Myles looks to day and then just kind of wait and see with JD.”

With those two players out, along with a third defensive line starter in tackle Taven Bryan, the Browns were steadily pushed around in the final 18 minutes or so. The Falcons did so as much on the ground as they did in the air; in fact, they did almost all of it on the ground.

The Falcons ran on 18 of their final 21 plays, not including two kneel-downs at the end of the game, gaining 152 net yards on those rushing attempts. A 42-yard completion to Olamide Zaccheaus to set up the go-ahead field goal late was the only pass completion in that span.

"They’re leaders," cornerback Greedy Williams said. "Whenever the leaders aren’t on the field, you kinda got to find the guys to lean on. Them two guys back, I wouldn’t put nothing past it, they’ll be ready for sure."

Taven Bryan back at practice; Harrison Bryant, David Njoku out

The Browns received more good news on the defensive line with the return of Bryan on Wednesday. Bryan had been sidelined since injuring his hamstring early in the third quarter of the win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 22.

Bryan and fellow defensive tackle starter Jordan Elliott (knee) were both limited in Wednesday's practice. Garrett, Owusu-Koramoah (groin), cornerback Denzel Ward (back/ribs) and offensive tackle Joe Haeg (concussion) were also limited.

The tight end position was light for Wednesday's workout, as both Harrison Bryant (illness) and David Njoku (knee/rest) sat out. Also missing practice was left guard Joel Bitonio (biceps/rest) and receiver Amari Cooper (rest).

Cooper has been regularly given Wednesdays off during normal Sunday game weeks.

Browns bring back Northeast Ohio native Pharaoh Brown at tight end

The Browns added Pharaoh Brown to the active roster late Wednesday afternoon. A former Brush High School product, Browns played with his hometown team in 2019.

Brown started the first three games this season with the Houston Texans and caught seven passes for 72 yards. He had played with the Texans since 2020, starting 24 of 31 games there with 44 catches for 406 yards and two touchdowns.

With the Browns in 2019, Brown started six of the nine games in which he played, catching two passes for 27 yards. He was on the Browns' practice squad in 2018 after having played in two games as a rookie with the Oakland Raiders in 2017.

Receiver Keenan Allen does not practice for Los Angeles Chargers

Receiver Keenan Allen did not practice on Wednesday for the Chargers. Allen continues to recover from a hamstring injury which has sidelined him for some time.

Kicker Dustin Hopkins (right quad), receiver Joshua Palmer (ankle) and linebacker Kyle Van Noy (back) were all listed as limited on the Los Angeles injury report. Quarterback Justin Herbert (ribs), fullback Zander Horvath (quad), defensive lineman Austin Johnson (shoulder), as well as tight ends Tre' McKitty (quad) and Donald Parham, Jr. (hamstring) were all full practice participants Wednesday.

Browns don't forget about Khalil Mack with Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers defense certainly took a hit when All-Pro edge rusher Joey Bosa, the former Ohio State star, went on injured reserve last week with a groin injury. Lost in all of the talk about Bosa's absence is the presence of another All-Pro player in Khalil Mack.

Mack signed with the Chargers this offseason following four years with the Chicago Bears. In Mack, the 2014 first-round pick of the Raiders, the Chargers picked up a player with the fifth-most sacks in the league since then, with 81.5, and the most quarterback hurries, with 235.

“He’s been a great player for a long time," running back Nick Chubb said of Mack. "Physical. Fast. He hasn’t slowed down. He’s like a rookie. Great player.”

Mack wasted no time getting adjusted to his new team, recording three sacks in his Chargers debut against his former team, the Raiders. His five sacks so far are tied for the sixth-most through the first five games in Chargers' history.

In three games against the Browns, Mack has four sacks, six tackles for loss, seven quarterback hits and one forced fumble. Last year, while with the Bears, he had two solo tackles, two sacks, two tackles for loss and two quarterback hits.

"I still think they have a really good defense," quarterback Jacoby Brissett said. "Obviously he’s one of their better players, but I think those guys still play really well, play really hard. It’s a system that those guys know very well. So we’ve got a tough task.

Richard LeCounte III returns to Browns on practice squad

The Browns made safety Richard LeCounte III the first draft pick of the Andrew Berry Era to be cut on Monday. They brought the former fifth-round pick back on Wednesday as a member of the practice squad.

LeCounte had primarily been a special-teams contributor during his two seasons with the Browns. All 11 of his snaps in Sunday's loss at Atlanta came on special teams after he had been inactive the first three games.

Contact Chris at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com.

On Twitter: @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns DE Myles Garrett returns to practice field after car accident