The Browns may have one eye on the standings in 2026, but the other is clearly on Los Angeles.
That’s the reality for Cleveland after the Myles Garrett trade, because the Rams’ season now helps shape what the Browns could be looking at in the 2027 NFL draft. Before the year, Garrett’s knee and Matthew Stafford’s back were already flagged as the two injuries that could swing that draft slot.
Week 1 made the picture messier for Los Angeles. The Rams lost, and Garrett had what was described as his worst game of the year before the star defensive end underwent surgery and landed on injured reserve. Then the Rams steadied themselves in Week 2 on Monday Night Football, helped in part by the New York Giants losing quarterback Jaxson Dart to injury.
Now there’s another update on Garrett’s recovery, and it suggests the wait may be longer than first expected.
“Los Angeles Rams star Myles Garrett figures to be on the sideline a little longer than anticipated.”
Garrett, who was part of one of the biggest blockbuster trades the NFL has seen in recent memory, has been given a recovery window of roughly six weeks after knee surgery, according to sources told NFL Network.
The report also said Los Angeles plans to handle the situation carefully, with head coach Sean McVay saying they are “not going to rush him back.”
Garrett can come off injured reserve in Week 6, but the more realistic target now looks like Week 9. That matters because the Rams’ schedule opens with a difficult stretch before easing up from Week 6 on.
If Los Angeles is hanging around and the schedule gets friendlier, the Rams could decide to give Garrett a little extra time before pushing for a second-half playoff run. If the team starts sliding, that could work in Cleveland’s favor, since Los Angeles might choose to speed things up - and raise the risk of reinjury.
In Other News...
Browns Just Sent A Clear Message About Their Crowded QB Room
The Browns are taking a clear line on their quarterback depth chart, and for now it does not include shopping either of their young passers. Even with Deshaun Watson still established as the starter, Cleveland is choosing to keep Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel in house, a sign the team still values having multiple options available behind its top quarterback.
In a league where injuries can turn a room upside down in a hurry, that approach makes sense from a roster-building standpoint. The Browns have watched other teams scramble for help at the position, but they are not treating that market as a reason to move either Sanders or Gabriel, preferring to keep both around as depth while the season takes shape. [Read more 🡒]
Denzel Ward Is Finally Being Used Like Browns Fans Always Wanted
Under new defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg, Denzel Ward is being deployed the way Browns fans have long wanted, with more freedom to shadow opponents top wideouts instead of staying locked into a more rigid assignment. It has given Clevelands best corner a chance to lean into the part of his game that has always stood out most, and it showed in the Browns 21-18 win, where he drew a major share of the coverage work against Tetairoa McMillan.
McMillan finished with just one catch for 12 yards, another reminder of how disruptive Ward can be when hes allowed to travel with a No. 1 target. He has often been underrated in past seasons, but his coverage ability and pass breakup production have consistently placed him among the leagues best corners, and this new approach only adds to the sense that Cleveland is finally maximizing a key piece of its defense. [Read more 🡒]
Todd Monken May Already Be Changing Something In Cleveland
The Browns got a win over Carolina in Week 3, but it came with plenty of the usual reminders that this offense still has work to do. The home crowd saw a low-output performance and a handful of penalties, while the individual evaluations from the game painted a mixed picture for both rookies and established starters. Even in a victory, the sense around the building is that the margin for error remains thin.
What has drawn attention is the early coaching imprint Todd Monken appears to be leaving on the group. The article points to a possible shift in how Cleveland is being shaped offensively, even as the team turns quickly to the next challenge in Week 4. For a Browns team trying to stabilize its identity, the bigger question may be whether the changes already showing up can hold up once the schedule tightens. [Read more 🡒]