Myles Garrett Gets Honest About Facing T.J. Watt On Thursday Night
11/19/2024 03:21 PM
This Thursday, two of the best defensive players in the NFL will once again share the same field.
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns will meet in the first of their two annual division matchups, which means we'll see T.J. Watt and Myles Garrett trying to do outdo each other. Yes, defensive ends don't compete against each other directly, but you'd be foolish to think Watt and Garrett won't have eyes on each other throughout the night.
Back in February, when Garrett was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year, a rankled Watt tweeted that it was "nothing I'm not used to," indicating his unhappiness with the voters. The Steelers star previously won the award in 2021.
On Wednesday, Garrett told reporters he didn't appreciate Watt's reaction to him winning the award, adding some spiciness to Thursday's game.
"I've never complained about the trophy not being at my house and vice versa," Garrett said, via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. "He shouldn't be feeling two ways about knowing it's going to me. So just going to play the game. I don't play against T.J., he doesn't play against me. We'll have a plan to go out and do what we're supposed to, win the game and dominate on defense. It's up for grabs this year, and we'll see the best man win."
Garrett also added that he and Watt are "friendly" and called the Pittsburgh pass rusher and his brother J.J. "great figures and advocates for the game."
Still, he claimed Watt is "going to have to apologize when I see him" and admitted that being on the same field as him provides some increased motivation.
"Absolutely," Garrett said,. "Two of the very best in the same division, play each other twice a year. Fans hate each other. That kind of stuff gets you excited. I know we both feel it and get a little bit juiced up for the match up."
The Steelers and Browns will kick off at 8:15 p.m. ET Thursday on Amazon Prime Video.
Related: Myles Garrett Has Classy Message For Ex-Browns Teammate Za'Darius Smith
