Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett is having a tremendous start to the NFL season. Garrett leads the league with eight sacks while recording at least a half sack in all but one of his team’s six games. The NFL has taken notice by ordering a random drug test, but Garrett believes his superhero-esque arms are drawing more attention from the league than his production.
In a Tuesday tweet, Garrett wrote the NFL requested a random drug test from him after the Browns’ 37-14 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. The only other time the NFL asked for a Garrett drug test this season came after Cleveland’s Week 4 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. Garrett — who usually wears mid- to full-length sleeves — went sleeveless in both the Arizona and Minnesota games, a look the 25-year-old says won’t continue if it means more blood samples.
In Garrett’s most recent sleeveless game, he recorded a sack and three tackles but struggled to slow MVP candidate and fellow No. 1 pick Kyler Murray. Murray went 20-for-30 passing for 229 yards and four touchdowns despite head coach Kliff Kingsbury and quarterback coach Cam Turner missing the game after testing positive for COVID-19.
Garrett was significantly more impactful in his first sleeveless game. The Texas A&M product tallied four quarterback hits and a half sack on Kirk Cousins, applying enough pressure to hold Minnesota to a touchdown.
The Browns have a quick turnaround for their next game, a Thursday matchup with the Denver Broncos in Cleveland. Sleeves or not, the Browns will need Garrett’s best to claim a win and jump back into the AFC playoff picture.
