Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett selected to Associated Press All-Pro first team
HOUSTON — Myles Garrett had arguably his best all-around season for the Browns this year. It potentially could earn him his first NFL Defensive Player of the Year award.
What it did earn him was a spot on the Associated Press' All-Pro first team as an edge rusher. Garrett was the only Browns player named to the team, which was announced Friday.
Garrett was joined on the first team at edge rusher by the Pittsburgh Steelers' T.J. Watt. Garrett led all edge rushers in votes received with 129 and first-place votes with 40.
The Browns (11-6) will play at the Houston Texans (10-7) at 4:30 p.m. Saturday in an AFC wild card game.
This is the third time Garrett, 28, has been honored as a All-Pro first-team selection. He also was a second-team selection in 2018 and last season.
Garrett finished tied with the Dallas Cowboys' Micah Parsons for seventh in the league with 14 sacks. He had one official sack — he also recorded a sack of Jacksonville's Trevor Lawrence on a 2-point conversion try — in the final five games in which he played.
Over 16 games — Garrett, like the rest of the Browns regulars, didn't play in the finale at Cincinnati — Garrett forced four fumbles and recovered one. He also blocked a field goal.
Garrett finished with 30 quarterback hits and, according to Pro Football Focus, 57 hurries.
Running back John Kelly Jr, kicker Riley Patterson elevated for Texans game
The Browns elevated running back John Kelly Jr. and kicker Riley Patterson for Saturday's wild card game at the Texans. The former is likely to alleviate concerns with Pierre Strong Jr.'s back, while the latter has been Dustin Hopkins' replacement over the final two regular-season games.
In his third NFL season out of Tennessee, Kelly has spent most of the last two seasons on the practice squad. Originally selected by the Rams in the sixth round of the 2018 draft, he has appeared in 13 career games with 32 career carries for 96 yards and two receptions for 27 yards.
Patterson is 6 of 7 with the Browns on PAT attempts. He made his only field goal, a 33-yard kick.
Associated Press All-Pro voting results
The members of The Associated Press 2023 NFL All-Pro balloting as selected by a national panel of 50 media members:
First team
Offense
Quarterback — Lamar Jackson, Baltimore
Running Back — Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco
Fullback — Kyle Juszczyk, San Francisco
Tight End — George Kittle, San Francisco
Wide Receivers — Tyreek Hill, Miami; CeeDee Lamb, Dallas; Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit
Left Tackle — Trent Williams, San Francisco
Left Guard — Joe Thuney, Kansas City
Center — Jason Kelce, Philadelphia
Right Guard — Zack Martin, Dallas
Right Tackle — Penei Sewell, Detroit
Defense
Edge Rushers — Myles Garrett, Cleveland; T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh
Interior Linemen — Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams; Chris Jones, Kansas City
Linebackers — Fred Warner, San Francisco; Roquan Smith, Baltimore; Quincy Williams; New York Jets
Cornerbacks — DaRon Bland, Dallas; Sauce Gardner, New York Jets
Slot cornerback — Trent McDuffie, Kansas City
Safeties — Kyle Hamilton, Baltimore; Antoine Winfield Jr., Tampa Bay
Special teams
Placekicker — Brandon Aubrey, Dallas
Punter — AJ Cole, Las Vegas
Kick Returner — Keisean Nixon, Green Bay
Punt Returner — Rashid Shaheed, New Orleans
Special Teamer — Miles Killebrew, Pittsburgh
Long Snapper — Ross Matiscik, Jacksonville
Second team
Offense
Quarterback — Dak Prescott, Dallas
Running Back — Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams
Fullback — Patrick Ricard, Baltimore
Tight End — Sam LaPorta, Detroit
Wide Receivers — A.J. Brown, Philadelphia; Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams; Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco; Mike Evans; Tampa Bay
Left Tackle — Tyron Smith, Dallas
Left Guard — Tyler Smith, Dallas
Center — Frank Ragnow, Detroit
Right Guard — Chris Lidstrom, Atlanta
Right Tackle — Lane Johnson, Philadelphia
Defense
Edge Rushers — Micah Parsons, Dallas; Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas
Interior Linemen — Justin Madubuike, Baltimore; Dexter Lawrence, New York Giants
Linebackers — Demario Davis, New Orleans; Bobby Wagner, Seattle; Patrick Queen, Baltimore
Cornerbacks — Jaylon Johnson, Chicago; Charvarius Ward, San Francisco
Slot cornerback — Taron Johnson, Buffalo
Safeties — Jessie Bates III, Atlanta; Justin Simmons, Denver
Special teams
Placekicker — Jake Elliott, Philadelphia
Punter — Bryan Anger, Dallas
Kick Returner — Marvin Mims, Denver
Punt Returner — Derius Davis, Los Angeles Chargers
Special Teamer — Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Detroit
Long Snapper — Andrew DePaola, Minnesota
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on Twitter at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Myles Garrett chosen to AP All-Pro first team as Browns lone selection
