49ers brace for Myles Garrett, challenging weather in crucial showdown vs. Browns

The San Francisco 49ers are gearing up for one of their toughest tests of the season. Head coach Kyle Shanahan and his staff must devise a plan to slow down one of the NFL's most dominant pass rushers when they visit the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field this weekend.

Myles Garrett is in the midst of a historic campaign, already setting new career highs while posting a franchise record and league-leading 18 sacks—with six games still to play. The Browns star has terrorized opposing quarterbacks, logging multiple-sack performances in five games this season, including a staggering five-sack outing in Week 8 against the New England Patriots.

"Just preparing to go against one of the best pass rushers ever," Shanahan said on Wednesday. "It's a huge challenge."

Shanahan detailed what makes Garrett such a rare threat.

"Even coming out of college, he's one of the most talented guys that I think anyone's ever looked at, just from height, weight, and speed," Shanahan said. "Also, how long his arms are when you measure, just get-off, his helmet crosses the line of scrimmage faster from an analytics standpoint than anyone in the NFL. So that means that get-off's amazing. When you put that with amazing ability, that to me comes around generationally.

"And then, you've got a guy who's played in a similar system for a while, who has stayed healthy, who's doing it over and over again, and trying to be great. When you have all that, how can you not be what he is? So, it's been extremely impressive."

Quarterback Brock Purdy will do everything he can to avoid falling victim to Garrett's relentless pressure. Sunday marks his third start since returning from a turf toe injury, and the 49ers need him healthy as they push toward a playoff berth.

"Obviously, I think he's the best in the league at what he does, and you have to have a game plan ready for him, and more than anything, understand I can't be holding onto the ball too long," Purdy said. "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."

Left tackle Trent Williams will be tasked with the tough assignment of blocking Garrett. When asked if he has lost sleep thinking about the matchup, Williams replied, "Not yet, but I'm sure I will."

He quickly corrected himself: "Nah, I lied. Yeah, I have."

What makes Garrett so dominant?

"Everything. He can do everything," Williams said. "He's one of the best that ever played, and he has no weaknesses."

Amazingly, Garrett continues to improve despite being deep into his ninth NFL season.

"He plays hard," Shanahan added. "He's always rushing the quarterback, yet being a real problem in the run game, too. So, he's like a number of those top guys. When you just look at his true ability, too, he seems to separate himself from those top guys also."

49ers preparing for harsh weather conditions

Even if Purdy avoids Garrett, he won't be able to escape the forecast. Temperatures are expected to hover around 34 degrees at kickoff, with rain and snow possible throughout the game.

Purdy has had uneven performances in poor weather, prompting questions about whether he might experiment with a glove for added grip, especially given Garrett's efforts to bring him down.

When asked if he would try wearing a glove during practice this week, Purdy's answer was clear—unlike the expected weather.

"No, I will not," he stated.

Shanahan has made weather preparation a priority as the team gets ready for Cleveland.

"We won't go in the bubble this week," Shanahan said. "Hope that it rains for us a little bit, get our mind right for it. I showed them a bunch of videos this morning of what it looked like a year ago, I think this day, there versus Pittsburgh, just a blizzard and stuff, and told them to expect it.

"I'd be surprised if it's not that way. You expect it to be that way, so you get your mind right, and you don't walk out Sunday and be shocked by anything besides that.

"We'll work enough to sweat and make the balls wet that way, but we're not going to water them down or anything."

A reporter asked Purdy whether gripping and throwing the football in the expected conditions concerns him.

"Possibly," Purdy responded. "I think that's any quarterback in the NFL. If it's some kind of rain or if the ball's wet, it does change the mindset of taking care of the ball. But, at the same time, you do have to drop back, you've got to throw it on time. And if it's not there in time, let's be smart with the ball.

"So, I don't know. I think it just depends on how hard it's raining and really what the conditions are when we get there in the moment. But I've played in rain before, and I've made it happen before. I've gotten the job done before in it, so I'm not going to be afraid or change anything in terms of my preparation going into the week."