Fans are in for a treat. Sunday's clash between the San Francisco 49ers and the Cleveland Browns will feature two of the best in the game facing each other for the first time. Naturally, Quarterback Brock Purdy hopes his teammate will emerge victorious in the head-to-head battle.
Tackle Trent Williams will be tasked with keeping defensive end Myles Garrett away from Purdy. That won't be easy. Garrett is a dominant force on the football field. The matchup has one of Williams' teammates excited.
"It's going to be excellent," tight end George Kittle said this week. "I mean, the cool thing is, Trent's a walking Hall of Famer, still playing at an incredibly high level, and he gets to go against Nick Bosa all the time."
While Williams and Bosa didn't face each other in training camp this year due to Bosa's contract extension holdout, the tackle has seen plenty of the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He has repeatedly acknowledged that their past practice battles have made him better.
Luckily, the two are teammates and can exchange valuable insights, continuously elevating their play.
Kittle added, "So the fact that they go against each other all the time, Trent will be at the top of his game, and it'll be fun to watch."
Garrett has proven to be a dominant force on the football field. This season is no different. He already has 5.5 sacks this season and owns Pro Football Focus' highest pass-rushing grade (94.0) in 2023, narrowly edging out Bosa (93.0).
Williams' head coach has a lot of confidence in the veteran tackle, now in his 14th NFL season.
"I mean, Trent is as good as it gets," Kyle Shanahan said Friday. "There's a number of good guys in this league, especially over the years. But who he's got this week is right up there with anybody. So, huge challenge for him. Same on the other side and for Garrett. It's real fun for football fans to watch."
Williams admits that these marquee matchups tend to keep him up at night. This week is no different.
"He's one of those few players that has everything, literally has everything," Williams said said of Garrett this week. "Can run around, can make you look stupid with agility moves. He's a juggernaut. ... But for me, I got to study like always and kind of just take what I see, digest it, and try to find a way to contain it on Sunday."
Williams compared the upcoming matchup versus Garrett to one from his heyday when he went up against DeMarcus Ware. Back then, the roles were reversed. Williams was the young stud, and Ware was the future Hall of Famer who seemingly lacked a weakness. The anticipation back then caused some restless nights, too.
How does preparing for Garrett this week compare?
"I was up last night thinking about it," Williams admitted. "Yeah, I guess you could say I do lose sleep."
Reflecting on the trade that sent Williams from Washington to the Bay Area, the 49ers still can't believe their good fortune in acquiring a talented cornerstone player for only third- and fifth-round draft picks.
"Knowing that you're getting that talented of a player, Kyle had worked with him. Chris Foerster, our O-line coach, had worked with him," general manager John Lynch said Friday morning during a KNBR radio interview. "But then through the process, just watching and just seeing what a talented player [he is], and I can't believe we were able to get him for what we did.
"I say this a lot. I don't like, and I think it's irresponsible to start throwing labels like 'Hall of Fame player,' but I can tell you, when we're watching Trent Williams, we're watching a Hall of Fame player; I think a first-ballot Hall of Fame player, and it's awesome to watch every week, and his work ethic matches it. And he's just been a joy to have on this team, and he's made us a lot better."
Lynch knows Williams has his work cut out for him on Sunday, though.
"Our film shows this is the best [Garrett has] ever played," Lynch said. "I think he found a scheme; he found a coach in [defensive coordinator] Jim Schwartz's mentality. You think Jim Schwartz, you think [49ers defensive line coach] Kris Kocurek. They were together for years. And so everything we talk about, getting in your stance and wreaking havoc and cutting it loose and attacking, those are all things that they're talking about. And Myles has really taken to it.
"He's always been a really high-level pass rusher. This is the best he's played consistently. He's a special talent."