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BEREA — Anthony Belton’s NFL career has consisted of two games. The second of those was the first start for the Green Bay Packers right tackle.
Belton may have a second start in his third career game, depending on the injury status of Zach Tom. If it is his second start, it will possibly be his first opportunity to face Browns All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett, one of the premier defensive players in the league.
The second-round pick out of North Carolina State acknowledged having the first start under his belt before potentially lining up opposite Garrett is at least a small benefit.
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“Yeah, it was definitely, first game, you’ve got the good nerves in there,” Belton told Green Bay area reporters this week. “But it was definitely good, though, getting in there and getting my feet wet and just getting a feel for the game.”
Belton held up well in his first start in place of Tom, who suffered an oblique injury in the Packers’ season-opening win over the Detroit Lions. He did not allow a pressure in a win over the Washington Commanders in Week 2 before Green Bay (2-0) makes its trip to Cleveland.
Tom returned to practice on a limited basis Sept. 17, and has a chance to play against the Browns. If he doesn’t, Garrett could flip sides from his normal spot at right defensive end to the left end position to capitalize on the rookie.
At least, that’s what Belton is expecting.
“Oh, yeah, definitely,” Belton said. “I feel like a rookie out there, I feel like any team is going to try to because he’s a younger player, they expect the inexperience. So I think that’s normal and I expect it to happen.”
Myles Garrett stats for the Browns this season
Garrett has only lined up on the left side of the defensive line for 11 total snaps through the first two games of the season, including seven in Week 2 against the Baltimore Ravens. The other 72 snaps have been on his normal right side.
The more likely outcome is Garrett mostly remains lined up across from left tackle Rasheed Walker, a fourth-year pro who has allowed five pressures in two games, although not a sack or a quarterback hit.
“Obviously he’s going to have a huge job this week, you know, with Myles primarily lining on the left side, although he will, they’ll do a good job,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur told Green Bay media Sept. 17. “They’ll move him around, and it could be game to game where he lines up. But I would anticipate he’s going to have, that’s a, that’s a big-time matchup, right there.”
Garrett has already racked up 10 pressures over two games, with five in each game. His 3.5 sacks so far are tied with the New Orleans Saints’ Carl Granderson and Tennessee Titans’ Harold Landry for the most in the league, and his six tackles for loss are an NFL best.
Regardless of which side Garrett lines up, it won’t just be the Packers tackles getting their first glimpse of the All-Pro edge rusher. Quarterback Jordan Love has never faced the Browns, at least in a regular-season game, which means he’s never had to deal with Garrett.
What Jordan Love said about facing Myles Garrett
Love, who will make his 36th career start this week, has seen his share of quality edge rushers before, including his now-teammate Micah Parsons while Parsons was still with the Dallas Cowboys. So he knows exactly what his job will be to help his blockers handle the Browns star.
“I think anytime that you’re going against an elite pass rusher, you’ve always got to know where he’s at and you’ve got to know what the protection is,” Love told Green Bay area reporters Sept. 17. “How many guys do we got sliding to him? Do we got chips on him? Does he have a one-on-one rush with somebody over there? So, you’ve always got to be aware of that and just keep that time clock in the back of your head.
“Versus any rush in the NFL, you don’t want to be holding onto the ball too long. It’s all about that pocket awareness, just having a good feel for where guys are at, if anybody gets beat right away or things like that.”
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Green Bay Packers see ‘big-time matchup’ against Cleveland Browns’ Myles Garrett
Reporting by Chris Easterling, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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