SANTA CLARA – Brock Purdy is done studying last Sunday’s three interceptions. Something even scarier is now in his line of sight: Myles Garrett.
He’s not just the Cleveland Browns’ ultimate quarterback chaser and annihilator. He leads the NFL with 18 sacks, five shy of breaking the single-season record.
“Obviously, he’s the best in the league with what he does,” Purdy said before the 49ers’ Wednesday practice. “You have to have a game plan ready for him, and more than anything, understand you can’t hold onto the ball too long.”
Purdy did precisely that too often in last Sunday’s 20-9 win over Carolina, and he blamed two of the three interceptions before halftime on an extra hitch that delayed throws.
If he gets ample time Sunday when the 49ers visit the Browns, that likely will be thanks to left tackle Trent Williams, who noted that Garrett has lined up on his side 85% of the time this season.
“He gives you everything. He’s one of the best who’s ever played. And he has no weaknesses,” Williams said. “He wins about 95% of his reps. He’s always on top of the quarterback. He’s been like this a long time.”
Two years ago, Williams sustained an ankle injury early in the 49ers’ last-minute loss at Cleveland, but he drew enough one-on-one matchups with Garrett to use in this week’s film study. Garrett had no sacks in that 19-17 Cleveland win in Week 5.
But Garrett had three sacks and two forced fumbles in last Sunday’s victory at Las Vegas. That earned him AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors, and it made a winner out of Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders in his starting debut.
Garrett, the 2017 draft’s No. 1 pick, is merely adding to accomplishments, such as a four-time All-Pro, six-time Pro Bowler and the 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
“His helmet crosses the line of scrimmage faster from an analytics standpoint than anyone in the NFL,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “So that means that get-off is amazing. When you put that with amazing ability, that to me comes around generationally.”
Tight end George Kittle could be deployed to help block, although such double teams have rarely slowed Garrett this season. “He’s like an alien out there,” Kittle said. “He’s completely in his own rhythm right now, from the start of the game to the end.”
WEATHER WATCH
The 49ers are bracing for inclement weather, be it rain, snow or temperatures in the 30s. A blizzard? Yeah, they’ll even prepare for that.
“I showed them a bunch of videos this morning of what it looked like a year ago there versus Pittsburgh, just a blizzard and stuff and told them to expect it,” Shanahan said. “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.”
Purdy said he hasn’t worn a glove on his throwing hand in past weather games and doesn’t anticipate starting now. That said, Wednesday’s practice in Santa Clara was under sunny skies and at 61 degrees.
McCAFFREY’S SUPER STATS
Christian McCaffrey isn’t gloating over the fact he leads the NFL in carries (217), receptions (81) and yards from scrimmage (1,581). “I really want to win. That’s all I care about,” McCaffrey said. “There’s not a statistic that matters after Week 13. It’s a long year, we have a lot of ball left. I don’t think it’s relevant right now.”
JUSZCZZYK’S SPORTSMANSHIP
Fullback Kyle Juszczyk is the 49ers’ nominee for the NFL’s Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award, which drew cackles from his closest pals, Kittle and McCaffrey.“I will say Juice is one of the biggest trash talkers I’ve been around in my nine-year career, so I love he’s up for sportsmanship,” Kittle said. “There is an aspect of trash talking that is not offensive, that is good sportsmanship.”
Juszczyk then offered the media an example, saying; “I have a very specific style. I hit people with just straight logic. It’s not, ‘You’re trash.’ I usually hit them with, ‘Hey our whole game plan was to go against you because you’re the weakest player on your team.’ I’ve had people years down the line say, ‘I remember what you said about me.’ And I’ll say, ‘I just made that up.’ ”
ANOTHER D-END CASUALTY
Make that four starting-caliber defensive ends the 49ers are without. Sam Okuayinonu’s high-ankle sprain Sunday will keep him out through the Week 14 bye.
While Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams are out for the season with ACL tears, Yetur Gross-Matos (hamstring) could be coming off Injured Reserve by season’s end. Shanahan said no other players’ IR practice windows will be opened before Week 15, which includes wide receivers Brandon Aiyuk (knee) and Jacob Cowing (hamstring).
BROWN’S HONOR
Ji’Ayir Brown, Sunday’s hero with two interceptions, became the 49ers’ first safety since Antoine Bethea in 2014 to win NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
KENDRICKS FINALLY SIGNS
Linebacker Eric Kendricks, who jilted the 49ers in free agency in 2024 to dash for the Cowboys, has signed with the Niners’ practice squad. Stone Blanton was released in a corresponding move.
PIE TIME
Kittle’s Thanksgiving preference: pie. “I’m a pretty big dessert guy. I love apple pie, rhubarb pie, pecan pie. Pupmkin’s solid but I like the other three way more. Give me a good blueberry pie, that’s so nice…. I just cover everything else in gravy and eat it.”