When DE Myles Garrett went down with an eye injury in the second quarter in Week 15 against the Chiefs, Browns defensive line coach Jacques Cesaire said he felt the same as likely many Browns fans throughout Huntington Bank Field.
"My heart stopped a little bit," Cesaire said. "Anytime you have one of the best players in the National Football League go down there's going to be a little bit of anxiety, like, 'Hey, what happened? How's he doing?'"
Garrett lied on the ground following the play, on which the Chiefs scored a touchdown, and was helped off the field holding a towel over his eye. Seven plays later, he returned to the game.
"Just resiliency," Cesaire said. "It's just the type of player that he is."
The grit Garrett displayed in Week 15 is emblematic of the effort he's shown all season, an effort he's looking to continue against the Bengals in Week 16 and beyond. As a vocal member of the Browns, Garrett has tried to instill his mindset among the younger players on the team.
"My job as a leader for this team and as a captain for this team, is to make the guys realize that it doesn't stop just because we don't have a chance to make the playoffs," Garrett said. "We're putting our best foot forward, putting the film out for next year. How to figure it out, how to fight through adversity. When you're in a rut like this and losing streaks come and guys get hurt, how do you battle back?"
Garrett's emphasis on the importance of the Browns' remaining three games has been crucial to the chemistry among the defensive line, according to Cesaire. Cesaire said that Garrett never complains despite the adversity he's faced this season, instead simply going to work, and doing his job at "an extremely high level."
As the Browns are no longer playing for a spot in the playoffs, Cesaire and Garrett have encouraged the defensive line to find a purpose for the final three games of the season.
"We are always talking about our 'why.' I always believe that men are much better when they have purpose," Cesaire said. "And guys like Myles, he always has purpose – whether it's being the best player on the field, getting sacks, helping his team win. The guy goes out there with a sense of purpose. So, just getting those guys to rally around that. Everybody in that room has a lot of pride and we're not just going to come in any game and just lay down."
Check out photos of the team working to prepare for their game this week against the Cincinnati Bengals at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Tight end Jordan Akins (88) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Offensive Assistant/Run Game Specialist Nick Charlton during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Punter Corey Bojorquez (13) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Safeties Coach Ephraim Banda during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Offensive tackle Julian Pearl (60) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Defensive end Sam Kamara (92) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Defensive end Cameron Thomas (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Cornerback Chigozie Anusiem (35) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Defensive end James Houston (96) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Running back Pierre Strong Jr. (20) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Linebacker Nathaniel Watson (40) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Defensive end Elerson G. Smith (52) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Tight end Blake Whiteheart (86) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Tight end Tre' McKitty (87) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Long snapper Rex Sunahara (50) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Running back Jacob Kibodi (36) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Wide receiver Jaelen Gill (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Defensive tackle Jowon Briggs (97) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Running back Jacob Kibodi (36) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Running back Jacob Kibodi (36) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Safety Trey Dean (28) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Defensive tackle T.Y. McGill (63) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Defensive tackle T.Y. McGill (63) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Punter Corey Bojorquez (13) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Tight end Brenden Bates (82) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Tight end Brenden Bates (82) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Wide receiver Michael Woods II (81) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Safety Trey Dean (28) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Safeties Coach Ephraim Banda during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Bill Willis Diversity Fellow Nemo Washington during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Wide receiver Jaelen Gill (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Offensive tackle Lorenzo Thompson (69) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Tight end Tre' McKitty (87) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Coaching Consultant Mike Vrabel during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Wide receiver Kaden Davis (89) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Safety D'Anthony Bell (37) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Defensive end Elerson G. Smith (52) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Cornerback Mike Ford Jr. (31) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Defensive end Marcus Haynes (98) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Offensive Assistant/Quarterbacks Coach Ashton Grant during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Tight end Brenden Bates (82) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Assistant Wide Receivers Coach Callie Brownson during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Tight end Brenden Bates (82) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Running back Pierre Strong Jr. (20) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Pass Game Specialist/Tight Ends Coach Tommy Rees during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Running back Jacob Kibodi (36) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Pass Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach Chad O'Shea during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Offensive Coordinator Ken Dorsey during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Wide receiver Jaelen Gill (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Kicker Dustin Hopkins (7) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Defensive Quality Control Coach Jeff Anderson and Cornerbacks Coach Brandon Lynch during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Defensive end Isaiah McGuire (57) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Part of Garrett's purpose in Week 16 against the Bengals will be pressuring and bringing down QB Joe Burrow. Garrett did not record a sack in the Browns' last matchup against the Bengals in Week 7 but has 12 sacks in 11 career games against the Bengals.
Burrow has been dominant as a passer this season, leading the NFL with 3,977 passing yards and 36 passing touchdowns. Garrett wants to take advantage of Burrow's desire to make big plays.
"He has a tendency to hold the ball and want to make a play – and with his arm, and everyone's seen it – he can definitely do it," Garrett said. "But fortunately, we've been able to rush as a unit and we'll be together to cover pockets he wants to slip through or lanes he wants to slip through."
If Garrett is able to sack Burrow in Week 16, the eight-year veteran will eclipse 100 career sacks. While he acknowledged that he is aware of the impending milestone, Garrett said his primary focus is earning a win over the Bengals.
Garrett's approach to dominating each game, both as an individual player and as a team, is consistent from game to game, according to Cesaire. However, AFC North opponents, Cesaire said, receive perhaps a slightly elevated level of attention from the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
"Just generally against the AFC North, (Garrett) has a lot of success," Cesaire said. "You're going up against these guys twice a year. There's familiarity and obviously there's pride in the (division) and there's pride in going against guys that know you and you know them really well. So, I just think Myles approaches every team the same way, but I think there's just a little bit more when he has to play against the AFC North."
Garrett's pride has fueled him to have success this season despite battling a litany of injuries. Garrett has 11 sacks this season, the fifth-most in the NFL, and has not missed a game.
In addition to the eye injury he suffered in Week 15, Garrett dealt with a foot injury from Week 2 to Week 4 and added an Achilles injury in Week 4. He was listed on the injury report with an Achilles injury until Week 11. In Week 16, Garrett did not practice on Thursday with a back injury, although he said he was prepared to play against the Bengals. Garrett said that his eye had recovered, and he was not listed with an eye injury on the Week 16 practice report.
Garrett's determination to play through different injuries is part of a mindset he's crafted throughout his time in the NFL.
"I think the winners are the same every single day, every time they step on the field, every time they walk out the door," Garrett said. "They choose to approach every opportunity and situation as, 'How can I win it? How can I become better from it? How can I improve?' And I'm not going to lay down in any situation knowing that I could have got back up and fought for my teammates."
