The Cleveland Browns have a tough matchup this weekend, hosting the undefeated San Francisco Forty-Niners. The Forty-Niners are 5-0 and have been decimating opponents in 2023. San Fran has scored 30 points or more in every game, including a 42-10 dismantling of the Dallas Cowboys last weekend.
Cleveland, on the other hand, has had an up-and-down season. The Browns are currently 2-2 and coming off a bye week. Hopefully the Browns were able to rest and heal during the bye week, they will need “all hands-on deck” if they have any hopes of derailing the steamrolling Forty-Niners.
Nick Chubb
(Photo by Justin K. Aller)
The elephant in the room is losing star running back Nick Chubb to a season-ending knee injury in week 2. The Browns have moved on – they had to – acquiring Kareem Hunt who is also a talented back. But the Browns lost part of their identity on offense when Chubb went down and have been struggling to find it. That job was made more difficult in week 4 against the Ravens when the Browns were also without starting quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Deshaun Watson
Watson was trying to come back from a right shoulder injury – his throwing shoulder – sustained the prior week against Tennessee on a running play. Watson was limited in practice all week and was listed as questionable. After he threw a handful of passes three hours before kickoff, the Browns decided to start rookie Thompson-Robinson. (Source: Associated Press)
Will the Browns have the services of the NFL’s highest paid player in week 6? Watson has been medically cleared to play but has opted to remain sidelined. According to NBC Sports (Source: Ian Rapoport), Watson did not practice Wednesday and canceled his usual Wednesday press conference.
Deshaun Watson should suit up and play Sunday. It will have been three weeks since the injury was sustained, and I’m sure Deshaun Watson wants to quiet the doubters. If he plays, Watson will have a chance to do just that, taking on the NFL’s best team through the first month of the season. If not, the Browns will rely on journeyman quarterback P.J. Walker after the rough outing by rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
Myles Garrett
Photo by Charles Murray
Myles Garrett also missed practice on Wednesday due to a foot injury sustained against the Ravens a week and a half ago. According to NBC Sports (Source: Mary Kay Cabot), Garrett was in a walking boot after week 4, but with the bye week having just passed, it was assumed that he would be fully healthy coming into the week. The fact that he couldn’t practice on Wednesday is not a great sign; however, it’s still possible that he can suit up and play on Sunday.
The Browns will need Garrett and the defense to play dominating football, the way they did against the Bengals and Titans. The Browns gave up only a field goal in each game. However, the challenge will be a lot more difficult this week.
San Francisco boasts the third best rushing offense at 156 yards per game, led by perennial Pro Bowler Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey already has 510 yards rushing and 7 rushing touchdowns, and we’re not even a third into the season.
San Francisco’s offense is led by quarterback Brock Purdy. Purdy leads all NFL quarterbacks with a 123.1 passer rating, and last week he threw four touchdowns against the Cowboys. The Forty-Niners have the 2nd best scoring offense in the NFL, averaging over 33 points per game. So yeah, the Browns are going to need Myles Garrett, Deshaun Watson, and everyone that’s available to suit up this weekend.
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