Cleveland Browns' Myles Garrett moves closer to sack record while playing through hip issue

CHICAGO (AP) — On the brink of an NFL record, Myles Garrett is a little banged up.

Garrett had 1 1/2 sacks in Cleveland's 31-3 loss at Chicago on Sunday. He's up to 21 1/2 on the year, just one shy of the single-season record with three games left.

Garrett, who turns 30 on Dec. 29, said he tweaked something in his left hip or in that area, but he downplayed the significance of the issue.

“I was feeling that for the rest of the game, but like I said, I'm just going to continue to push through because still got something to play for,” he said. “As long as there's games on the schedule, I'm going to go out there and try to win.”

Cleveland (3-11) has lost three in a row and six of seven overall. It is nearing the end of its second consecutive losing season, but Garrett thinks it's important to set the tone for the team's youngest players.

“With the young guys, showing them that it (doesn't) matter what the record is, what the score is, you've got to come out and be yourself,” he said. “It didn't happen today, but teams have come back from worse.”

Garrett recorded his first sack of day when he pulled down Caleb Williams on third-and-goal at the Cleveland 8 with about 5 1/2 minutes left in the first half. That led to a missed 35-yard field goal by Cairo Santos.

Williams became the 51st quarterback that Garrett has sacked in his nine-year career.

The 2023 AP Defensive Player of the Year joined defensive tackle Shelby Harris on a third-and-15 sack early in the fourth quarter, forcing Chicago to punt on a frigid afternoon at Soldier Field.

Garrett has at least one sack in a career-best eight consecutive games. The stretch includes a team-record five in a 32-13 loss at New England on Oct. 26.

The NFL record of 22 1/2 is shared by Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan in 2001 and Pittsburgh’s TJ Watt in 2021. The NFL did not start counting sacks as an official statistic until 1982.

“It's always been in sight,” Garrett said of the record.

Garrett was selected by Cleveland with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 draft. The four-time All-Pro agreed to a four-year contract extension in March that included $122.8 million guaranteed with a total value of $204.8 million.

He had 14 sacks and 22 tackles for loss last season. He has 124 sacks for his career, moving into 21st place on the NFL list behind Dwight Freeney at 125 1/2.

Garrett had four sacks in the first three games this season. Then he was shut out in losses to Detroit, Pittsburgh and Minnesota.

Garrett broke out of his slump with a third-down sack of Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa in the third quarter of Cleveland’s 31-6 victory on Oct. 19.

He had 13 sacks in a span of four games from Oct. 26 to Nov. 23. The torrid stretch began with his performance against the Patriots, and it included four sacks against Baltimore and three against Las Vegas.

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Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, rear, and defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93), right, sack Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams in the second half of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift (4) is tackled by Cleveland Browns linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) and defensive end Myles Garrett (95) in the first half of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Chicago Bears place kicker Cairo Santos (8) kicks his field goal attempt past Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, but misses the field goal in the first half of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, right, avoids a tackle by Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, left, in the second half of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) and Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) after a sack in the second half of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

ATLANTA (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo had 21 points and 17 rebounds and the Milwaukee Bucks snapped a three-game losing streak, holding off the Atlanta Hawks 112-110 on Monday after squandering a 23-point lead in the second half.

The Hawks led 105-104 on Jalen Johnson's 3-pointer with 1:11 remaining before dropping their fourth in a row in the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day game played in the hometown of the civil rights icon.

AJ Green and Bobby Portis hit back-to-back 3s, Johnson turned the ball over and Antetokounmpo powered inside for a basket that made it 109-105 with 36 seconds to go.

The Hawks still had a chance after Nickeil Alexander-Walker connected from outside the stripe and Ryan Rollins missed a free throw for the Bucks. But CJ McCollum bobbled the ball and wound up flinging an off-balance shot that clanked off the rim to seal it for Milwaukee.

Atlanta nearly won after missing its first 21 shots from 3-point range. The Hawks trailed 54-38 at halftime and 74-51 approaching the midway point of the third period before finally coming to life.

Alexander-Walker led the Hawks with 32 points, while Johnson had 28 points and 16 rebounds. The Bucks were more balanced, with six players in double figures.

Milwaukee made a lineup change, dropping Kevin Porter Jr. from the starting five. After starting all 36 games he had played this season, Porter was replaced by Kyle Kuzma.

Porter was benched after a rough January that included an 0-for-9 shooting performance in Milwaukee's previous game, a blowout loss to the San Antonio Spurs. He played 28 minutes against the Hawks with nine points, seven assists and six rebounds.

The Hawks continued to struggle at home, dropping to 7-13 at State Farm Arena. They are 13-12 on the road.

As part of the holiday commemoration, Martin Luther King III and his wife, Arndrea Waters King, were recognized during a timeout early in the third quarter.

Bucks: Return home to take on the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night.

Hawks: Travel to Memphis on Wednesday to face the Grizzlies.

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MArtin Luther King is honored during the first half of an NBA basketball game between the Atlanta Hawks and the Milwaukee Bucks, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) shoots against the Milwaukee Bucks during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Milwaukee Bucks guard Ryan Rollins (13) looks to pass against Atlanta Hawks forward Corey Kispert (24) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) moves the ball against Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) shoots against Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)