49ers T Trent Williams joked that he has lost sleep thinking about guarding DE Myles Garrett, as Garrett has caused trouble for offensive lines throughout his career.
Garrett has lived in the backfield since he entered the league in 2017, recording 120.5 sacks in his nine-year career. This season has been no different, as he leads the NFL with 18 sacks. The task of guarding Garrett will be a challenge that is shared between multiple San Francisco players in Week 13, including Williams.
"He can do everything. He's one of the best to ever play and he has no weaknesses," Williams said. "He wins about 95 percent of his reps. He's always on top of the quarterback. He has been like this for a long time, and it doesn't look like he's coming anywhere close to slowing down."
TE George Kittle could help Williams bear the responsibility of Garrett. He called Garrett an "alien" on the field due to the rate at which Garrett has sacked the quarterback during his historic season.
Garrett will face the challenge of beating a San Francisco offensive line that has allowed one sack in their last three games against rushers like Cardinals LB Josh Sweat and Rams LB Byron Young. Sweat and Young are tied for seventh in the NFL with nine sacks each. Yet, Garrett has continued to find his way to the quarterback, totaling 14 sacks in the last five games – the most sacks by an NFL player over a five-game span.
"He's completely in his own rhythm right now, like from the start of the game until the end," Kittle said. "Teams are chipping him. They are chipping him with a tackle and then have a running back helping the tackle. He's still getting sacks. He's still finding ways to impact the game. He's an absolutely incredible football player so when you go against the Browns, you have to definitely pay attention to him."
49ers QB Brock Purdy will be paying attention to Garrett both pre- and post-snap in Week 13, as he is in charge of setting the protection against Garrett and Cleveland's defense. Purdy's job of limiting Garrett will be more than just setting the protection, however, as he will have to make quick decisions from the pocket.
Purdy has been one of the slowest quarterbacks in the NFL in throwing the ball, taking 3.12 seconds, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. While that number is a testament to a sturdy 49ers offensive line that has allowed 21 sacks, taking so long in the pocket could be costly against a player like Garrett.
"Obviously, I think he's the best in the league at what he does," Purdy said. "You have to have a game plan ready for him and more than anything, I understand I can't be holding onto the ball too long. I think any quarterback could say that about him. We all have his respect, so it's going to be a good challenge for all of us and I'm excited for our game plan to go in and compete."
Browse photos of the Cleveland Browns practicing at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus as they prepare for their Week 13 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.
The defensive backs during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 26, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 28, 2025.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 26, 2025.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 26, 2025.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 28, 2025.
Cornerback Sam Webb (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 26, 2025.
Pass Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach Chad O'Shea during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 26, 2025.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 28, 2025.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 26, 2025.
Wide receiver Gage Larvadain (84) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 28, 2025.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 26, 2025.
Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 26, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 26, 2025.
Wide receiver Kaden Davis (89) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 26, 2025.
Safety Rayshawn Jenkins (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 26, 2025.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 26, 2025.
The Week 12 Nickelodeon NVP, Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 26, 2025.
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 26, 2025.
Running back Quinshon Judkins (10) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 28, 2025.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 26, 2025.
Football Operations Assistant Hajriz Aliu and Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 26, 2025.
Wide receiver Malachi Corley (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 26, 2025.
Wide receiver Malachi Corley (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 26, 2025.
Tight end Blake Whiteheart (86) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 26, 2025.
Safety Rayshawn Jenkins (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 26, 2025.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 26, 2025.
Offensive Coordinator Tommy Rees during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 28, 2025.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 28, 2025.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) and Safety Rayshawn Jenkins (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 26, 2025.
Wide receiver Luke Floriea (81) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 26, 2025.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 26, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 28, 2025.
Defensive end Ochaun Mathis (97) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 26, 2025.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 26, 2025.
Assistant Wide Receivers Coach Stephen Bravo-Brown during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 26, 2025.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 28, 2025.
Tight end Blake Whiteheart (86) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 26, 2025.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 26, 2025.
Defensive end Cameron Thomas (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 28, 2025.
Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 28, 2025.
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 26, 2025.
The Week 12 Nickelodeon NVP, Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 26, 2025.
Defensive Line Coach Jacques Cesaire during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 26, 2025.
Linebacker Eugene Asante (36) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 26, 2025.
Wide receiver Gage Larvadain (84) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 26, 2025.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 28, 2025.
Footballs during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 28, 2025.
Wide receiver Luke Floriea (81) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 28, 2025.
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 26, 2025.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 28, 2025.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 26, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 28, 2025.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 28, 2025.
Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 28, 2025.
The team during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 26, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins (96) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 26, 2025.
Defensive end Isaiah McGuire (57) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 28, 2025.
Garrett is just one of 11 players that San Francisco is game planning for against a defense led by defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. Cleveland has allowed both the second-fewest total yards per game and passing yards per game while also shutting down the run, allowing the fourth-fewest yards per carry. Cleveland has a total 42 sacks, the second-most in the NFL.
"Jim's as good of a coordinator as there is, and when you're as good of a coordinator as there is and you have the talent that they have, it's a pretty lethal combination," 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said.
Players on the Browns' defense have had career years this season, including DT Maliek Collins with a career-high 6.5 sacks playing alongside Garrett. Defensive ends Alex Wright, Cameron Thomas and Isaiah McGuire have been a platoon on the opposite side of Garrett, combining for 7.5 sacks and 18 tackles for loss.
Cleveland's linebackers have been just as impactful. Linebackers Carson Schwesinger and Devin Bush have patrolled the second level and brought versatility with their playstyles. Schwesinger not only leads the Browns with 96 tackles but is also tied for second with nine tackles for loss. He also has two interceptions on the season. Bush has 75 tackles and has been a factor in the pass game with five passes defensed and a pick-six.
S Ronnie Hickman is tied with Schwesinger in interceptions while also being third with 68 tackles. Cornerbacks Denzel Ward and Tyson Campbell will be in charge of limiting the 49ers' pass game and have been a part of the shutdown Cleveland pass defense. Ward and Campbell both have an interception, and Campbell is tied for third in the NFL with 13 passes defensed.
"They're sound in their coverages. A tough defense. They rally. On film, you just see guys flying all over the place," Purdy said. "So, when you're watching film and you see a defense like that, it's like, 'Okay, it's going to be one of those games, man.' It's a blue-collar game and they've played everybody really well. Defensively, I feel like they've shut down a lot of offenses and it's a credit to Jim Schwartz and how he coaches up his defense."
