CLEVELAND (AP) — Myles Garrett wasn't going to let injuries to both feet stop him from playing on Sunday.
Going forward, he may no longer have a choice.
Cleveland's All-Pro defensive end will undergo an MRI on his foot Monday after he had to twice go to the sideline medical tent and was clearly struggling physically in Cleveland's 21-15 loss to the New York Giants.
Garrett had to be helped off the field at one point of the fourth quarter. On Friday, the NFL's reigning Defensive Player of the Year revealed he's dealing with injuries to both feet but didn't say exactly what was wrong.
Garrett grabbed his right foot during the game, and he was limping following several plays. The 28-year-old said he's dealing with multiple issues in both of his legs as he's trying to compensate for the foot injuries.
“A whole lot of things going on,” Garrett said after hobbling to the podium for his postgame news conference. “It’s part of the game. I’m not gonna make excuses. Excuses don’t win this game. So I’m going to continue to do recovery, my treatment, everything that I’m required and more and be out there and be the player that we need.”
Losing Garrett for any amount of time could send the Browns into a tailspin.
He's their defensive leader, one of the league's elite edge rushers and the one player opposing coaches have to account for in their game plans.
Based on appearance alone, it wouldn't be surprising if Garrett misses significant time.
After the Browns lost and were booed at home for the second time in three weeks, Garrett limped out of the locker room and plopped into the back seat of an awaiting cart. He had to lift his right leg into the vehicle.
Garrett's father stopped to briefly to talk to him before he was driven to his car outside Huntington Bank Field.
The three-time All-Pro sat out two days of practice this week to get treatment and rest before returning Friday. He's been reluctant to describe the injuries, leading to speculation about what's ailing him.
“It’s the foot,” Garrett said when asked what's affecting his play. “But like I said, it’s more than just the foot. It’s multiple things going on. If I think the foot’s feeling good or feeling better, it’s one thing or another. So it’s kind of just feeding into each other right now and nothing’s sitting right because nothing has time to heal.
“I’m leaning on something else and I’m compensating here to make some hurt there. It’s just been — like I said, a cycle.”
Garrett was credited with one tackle and three hits on Giants quarterback Daniel Jones. He had a strip-sack in each of Cleveland's first two games.
With Garrett in a prone position on the field in the fourth quarter, Cleveland's fans began chanting his name before he was helped to his feet and taken the sideline. Garrett said the moment gave him a temporary lift.
“That's the kind of things that you dream of,” he said. “And it’s not the situation we wanted to be in with the score, but that kind of support behind myself and us, that’s when you step up and make plays and we made plays down the stretch, but we need to make a couple more. But that’s the stuff that you play for.”
In addition to Garrett being hurt, the Browns' battered offensive line took more hits as right guard Wyatt Teller (knee), left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (knee) and backup tackle James Hudson III (shoulder) all got hurt.
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said all the trio would undergo imaging tests. Also, right tackle Dawand Jones is dealing with a knee issue.
The injuries forced Stefanski to move left guard Joel Bitonio to tackle and center Ethan Pocic to guard. Backup Nick Harris took over at center.
Wills made his 2024 debut after undergoing knee surgery in December. Right tackle Jack Conklin, who underwent knee reconstruction after getting hurt in Week 1 last year, recently returned to practice and seemed to be tracking toward playing before hurting his hamstring on Friday.
Stefanski called Conklin's injury “a minor setback.”
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
Cleveland Browns' Myles Garrett is helped off the field after an injury in the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Cleveland Browns' Myles Garrett kneels on the field after an injury in the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) reaches for New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) while being blocked by offensive tackle Andrew Thomas (78) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024 in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Jared Goff threw two touchdown passes, David Montgomery ran for 106 yards and a score and the Detroit Lions held on late to beat the Arizona Cardinals 20-13 on Sunday.
The Lions continued their recent dominance in the series, improving to 5-0-1 against the Cardinals since 2017. Detroit’s defense kept Kyler Murray and Arizona out of the end zone in the second half, giving up just one field goal.
Goff completed his first 14 passes before an incompletion in the third quarter. It was his longest streak without an incompletion to start a game in his nine-year career and he finished 18 of 23 for 196 yards.
Detroit (2-1) took a 20-7 lead just before halftime on a well-executed hook-and-ladder play. Goff threw short to Amon-Ra St. Brown, who immediately lateraled to Jahmyr Gibbs, who dashed 20 yards for the touchdown. The Lions caught a break earlier in the drive when Goff appeared to throw a pick-6, but officials ruled the play had been whistled dead just before the snap for the two-minute warning.
Detroit settled for a 20-10 lead at the break after Arizona’s Matt Prater made a 42-yard field goal as time expired. Goff was 12 of 12 passing for 137 yards and two touchdowns in the first half.
Prater kicked a 45-yard field goal to cut Detroit’s lead to 20-13 with 3:52 left, but the Lions were able to run out the clock on the ensuing drive. Goff scrambled for an 8-yard gain for the first down that sealed the win.
Arizona had multiple good chances to cut into Detroit's lead in the third quarter, but couldn't convert on critical plays.
The Cardinals (1-2) were driving early in the third when Murray tried to go deep to Marvin Harrison Jr., but the pass was short and intercepted by Kerby Joseph in the end zone. It was Murray’s first interception this season.
A few minutes later, Arizona's Dennis Gardeck picked off a pass by Goff to give the Cardinals great field position at Detroit's 33-yard line. But the Lions' defense responded with a fourth-down stop on the ensuing drive, tackling Murray just short of a first down.
Murray finished 21 of 34 for 205 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Harrison caught five passes for 64 yards.
The Lions jumped to a 7-0 lead on the first offensive drive, methodically moving 70 yards on nine plays. Montgomery ran for the 1-yard touchdown, muscling through the line before falling backward into the end zone.
Arizona responded immediately, with Murray making a couple big gains with a his legs before hitting Harrison for a 10-yard touchdown. It was the rookie's third touchdown catch over the past two games.
St. Brown caught a 5-yard touchdown from Goff early in the second quarter to put the Lions up 13-7.
Lions: S Ifeatu Melifonwu (ankle) and CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (hamstring) were among six inactives. ... LB Derrick Barnes (knee) left in the first half and didn't return. ... TE Sam LaPorta was seen limping and came out of the game multiple times. He had ice on his right ankle.
Cardinals: Starting RT Kelvin Beachum (hamstring) was out after not practicing Friday. The Cardinals started Jackson Barton at right tackle, which is the team's third starter at the position in three games. Barton (toe) left in the fourth quarter and was replaced by Charlie Heck ... DL Justin Jones (triceps) left early in the second half and didn't return.
Lions: Host Seahawks on Monday, Sept. 30.
Cardinals: Host Commanders next Sunday.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) reacts to his interception of a Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray pass during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Detroit Lions head coach Dave Campbell watches against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson (97) applies pressure to Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) throws against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) scores a touchdown on a run after receiving a lateral from wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona Cardinals place-kicker Matt Prater (5) kicks a 42-yard field goal against the Detroit Lions during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin )
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) reacts against the Detroit Lions during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) scores a touchdown on a run after receiving a lateral from wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson (14) catches a pass as Detroit Lions cornerback Carlton Davis III (23) defends during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin )
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) celebrates his five-yard touchdown reception with quarterback Jared Goff (16) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
