For the first time in 11 months, Myles Garrett and the Pittsburgh Steelers will share the same patch of grass on a football field.

Mike Tomlin is more concerned about what Garrett does before the whistle is blown rather than after it. And he’s certain his Steelers players feel the same way.

“There really is no message,” to send to the team, Tomlin said Tuesday at his weekly press conference. “My day-to-day existence kind of relays that message.”

The matchup Sunday at Heinz Field between the 4-0 Steelers and 4-1 Cleveland Browns will be the first with Garrett as an active participant since Nov. 14, a 21-7 Browns victory that ended with the star defensive end yanking off Mason Rudolph’s helmet and hitting the quarterback on his unprotected head.

Garrett earned an indefinite suspension that carried through the end of the season and amounted to six games without pay. Neither he nor Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey, who was suspended two games for coming to Rudolph’s defense, were around two weeks later when the Steelers won the rematch 20-13.

Garrett accused Rudolph of inciting the fight by using a racial slur, an accusation Rudolph vehemently denied. The NFL investigated the incident and concluded there was no evidence to support Garrett’s allegation.

With quarterback Ben Roethlisberger back from right elbow surgery, Rudolph will be on the bench Sunday, and Tomlin isn’t interested in reopening old wounds about the skirmish.

“There is a lot on the table to this game in reference to stakes,” Tomlin said. “They are a 4-1 team. We’re trying to remain undefeated. We’re not looking for that low-hanging fruit or reality TV storylines.

“This is a big game here in 2020.”

The biggest, for certain, for the Steelers, whose four victories have come against teams with a combined 3-15-1 record. The Kevin Stefanski-led Browns are off to their best start under a first-year coach since 1975, and they are seeking their first win at Heinz Field since 2003.

The matchup arguably is the most important in the series since the Steelers rallied from a 17-point deficit to defeat the Browns, 36-33, in the 2002 AFC wild-card round. That game also was played at Heinz Field.

Starting Sunday, the Steelers will play half of their final 12 games against division teams. Baltimore also holds a 4-1 record.

“We love being in the kitchen,” Tomlin said. “AFC North ball is in the kitchen. It’s hot in the north.”

The Browns are off to their best start under any coach since 1994 when, playing for Bill Belichick, they began 4-1 en route to an 11-5 finish and eventual divisional playoff loss to the Steelers at Three Rivers Stadium.

Garrett is a major reason for the Browns’ resurgence. He is second in the NFL with six sacks and, in the first three games of the Browns’ four-game winning streak, he caused a sack-fumble. He didn’t get a strip-sack last weekend against the Indianapolis Colts, but he forced an intentional grounding call in the end zone while pressuring Philip Rivers. The fourth-quarter safety provided the Browns a nine-point cushion in a game they won 32-23.

Garrett’s contributions — he also has 10 quarterback hits — are an example of why the Browns lead with NFL with 12 takeaways, getting six interceptions and fumble recoveries alike.

“We know about his freakish talent,” Tomlin said. “He’s got the play to match here in 2020. He’s a defensive player of the year-like candidate. … He’s been a game-changer in just about every game he’s played so far.”

The Steelers may have to protect Roethlisberger from Garrett with a line vastly different than the one that was on the field 11 months ago at Cleveland Stadium. Left tackle Alejandro Villanueva could be the only starter at his same position from that game. Matt Feiler has moved to left guard, Chuks Okorafor will be at right tackle and Pouncey and right guard David DeCastro left the Steelers’ game last weekend with injuries.

DeCastro departed the 38-29 victory against Philadelphia in the first quarter with an abdominal strain. Pouncey left with two minutes remaining because of a foot injury. If they can’t play, J.C. Hassenauer would make his first NFL start at center and rookie Kevin Dotson his second at guard.

That could lead to matchup problems against Garrett.

“We better be cognizant of his movement and work to minimize it,” Tomlin said.

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