Browns HC Todd Monken Unfazed by Myles Garrett's Offseason Absence

Monken says star DE 'will be ready' despite missing voluntary workouts to focus on individual training.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 8:56pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a football player in mid-motion, with sharp, overlapping planes of orange and brown representing the Cleveland Browns' team colors.Myles Garrett's absence from the Browns' voluntary offseason program is not a concern for the team, as they focus on building chemistry and installing new systems.Berea Today

Browns head coach Todd Monken says he wishes star defensive end Myles Garrett were participating in the team's voluntary offseason program, but he's not worried about Garrett's absence. Monken understands Garrett's approach and is confident the two-time Defensive Player of the Year 'will be ready' when it matters most.

Why it matters

Garrett's decision to skip the voluntary workouts is not unusual for elite players, but it does mean he'll miss valuable time bonding with new coaches and teammates. However, Monken's experience and confidence in Garrett suggest the team is not overly concerned about the situation.

The details

Monken acknowledged that while he'd prefer all his players to be present, the offseason program is voluntary. He said Garrett will be 'ready' despite missing the chance to meet new defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg and help set the tone. Monken emphasized the importance of player development and team bonding during this time of year.

  • The Browns' voluntary offseason program began on April 7, 2026.
  • Myles Garrett has missed the first two days of the program.

The players

Todd Monken

The head coach of the Cleveland Browns, who is leading the team's voluntary offseason program.

Myles Garrett

The star defensive end for the Cleveland Browns, a two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year who set the single-season sack record last season.

Mike Rutenberg

The new defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns, who Garrett will not get to work with directly during the voluntary offseason program.

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What they’re saying

“Well, first of all, as I've said before, this is voluntary for our players to be here. I think if you asked every coach in the NFL would they like every player to be there, of course. I think there's certain parts of what we do from a connection standpoint that I think is important to be here, from a schematic standpoint. From a work standpoint, not so much. And it's our job to make it to where the guys want to be here. Not just by the job, but by their development, by the camaraderie, being part of a team.”

— Todd Monken, Browns Head Coach

“Myles will be ready. I'm not worried about Myles.”

— Todd Monken, Browns Head Coach

What’s next

The Browns will continue their voluntary offseason program, with Myles Garrett expected to join the team at a later date to prepare for the upcoming season.

The takeaway

Monken's confidence in Garrett's ability to be ready despite missing the voluntary workouts suggests the Browns are not overly concerned about the star defensive end's absence. The team appears focused on developing chemistry and installing new systems during this time of year.