Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh is quite familiar with Cleveland, as his father has always been a big Guardians fan. Jim and his brother John Harbaugh spent time in Cleveland over summer vacations with his grandparents growing up.
His trip to Northeast Ohio this week, however, is not for leisure as the Chargers look to improve to 5-3 with a win against the Browns. Standing in their way is a revamped Browns offense and a talented defense led by reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year DE Myles Garrett.
"He's a tremendous football player," Jim Harbaugh said on Wednesday. "He has speed, physicality, size, strength, speed and is super savvy. You can tell. It's a tremendous combination of a guy that can play all out with tremendous talent and effort, but you can see he's got his wits about him at all times."
Garrett is 0-4 against the Chargers in his career, recording a sack just once in four games. However, Garrett's versatility has been on display this season, generating the third-most pressures in the NFL this season with 41.
"He's someone that you have to be aware of whenever he's on the field, especially where he lines up," QB Justin Herbert said. "They've asked him to do so many different things: left side, right side, inside. And he can do everything. He can drop into pass coverage. He's a complete player so you have to be aware of him. And it really starts at the protection plan, having a good week, being able to communicate, talk about every look they could bring, what they might bring and as long as we're moving in that direction, we're going to keep getting better."
Check out photos of the team working to prepare for their game this week against the Los Angeles Chargers at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 30, 2024.
Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Offensive tackle Dawand Jones (79) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 30, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Wide receiver Michael Woods II (81) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 30, 2024.
Safeties Coach Ephraim Banda and the safeties during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 30, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Wide receiver Kadarius Toney (87) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Offensive Coordinator Ken Dorsey during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Offensive tackle Dawand Jones (79) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 30, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 30, 2024.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 30, 2024.
Offensive tackle Roy Mbaeteka (61) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 30, 2024.
Punter Corey Bojorquez (13) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 30, 2024.
Linebacker Nathaniel Watson (40) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 30, 2024.
Wide receiver Kadarius Toney (87) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 30, 2024.
Director of High Performance Shaun Huls during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 30, 2024.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 30, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 30, 2024.
Offensive guard Germain Ifedi (65) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 30, 2024.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 30, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 30, 2024.
Pass Game Specialist/Tight Ends Coach Tommy Rees during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 30, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 30, 2024.
Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 30, 2024.
Linebacker Nathaniel Watson (40) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 30, 2024.
Cornerback Mike Ford Jr. (31) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Offensive tackle Dawand Jones (79) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 30, 2024.
Defensive end Za'Darius Smith (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 30, 2024.
Punter Corey Bojorquez (13) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 30, 2024.
Running back Pierre Strong Jr. (20) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Center Ethan Pocic (55) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 30, 2024.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson (72) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 30, 2024.
Defensive end Za'Darius Smith (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 30, 2024.
Wide receiver Kadarius Toney (87) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 30, 2024.
Offensive Assistant/Quarterbacks Coach Ashton Grant during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 30, 2024.
Offensive Coordinator Ken Dorsey during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 30, 2024.
Defensive Line Coach Jacques Cesaire during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 30, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (71) and Offensive tackle Lorenzo Thompson (69) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 30, 2024.
Coaching Consultant Mike Vrabel during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Center Ethan Pocic (55) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 30, 2024.
Tight end Geoff Swaim (84) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 30, 2024.
Offensive guard Zak Zinter (70) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 30, 2024.
Assistant Offensive Line Coach Roy Istvan during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 30, 2024.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 30, 2024.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 30, 2024.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 30, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Center Ethan Pocic (55) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 30, 2024.
Offensive Coordinator Ken Dorsey during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 30, 2024.
Linebacker Nathaniel Watson (40) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 30, 2024.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Defensive Quality Control Coach Jeff Anderson during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II (90) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Linebackers Coach Jason Tarver during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Director of Strength and Conditioning Larry Jackson during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Cornerback Mike Ford Jr. (31) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Wide receiver Kadarius Toney (87) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II (90) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Assistant Strength and Conditioning/Sports Science Coach Josh Christovich during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Safety Trey Dean (28) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Coaching Consultant Mike Vrabel during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Head of Athlete Health and Performance and Strength and Conditioning Dustin Nabhan during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Offensive Assistant/Quarterbacks Coach Ashton Grant during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
Offensive Coordinator Ken Dorsey during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 31, 2024.
On the other side of the ball, the Chargers are preparing for a Browns offense coming off its best performance of the season in Week 8. In the win, QB Jameis Winston threw for 334 yards and three touchdowns, earning AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors in his first start for the Browns.
A 10-year veteran and former first overall draft pick, Winston's resume has earned the respect of the Chargers locker room.
"Famous Jameis man. Hell of a dude, man. His character speaks volumes, you know he'll have those guys ready on Sunday," LB Khalil Mack said on Thursday. "So, it's always going to be a challenge when you go against a guy like that, especially just the mindset he's had and the player that he's been since he's been in this league."
Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter said that he saw an offense that might be finding its footing after its first 400-yard performance this season. After returning RG Wyatt Teller from the injured reserve list and with RB Nick Chubb prepared to make his third straight start, the Browns offense poses a number of challenges for the Chargers defense.
"[Winston is] confident, trusts himself," Minter said. "Trusts the offense and the type of quarterback who will let it rip. He's always been that way. He's got a big arm, he's got good receivers, the o-line has got some guys back due to injury, got the running back due to injury. So, I feel like they're healthy and potentially hitting their stride a little bit more."
Minter's defense has allowed just one opposing offense, the Steelers in Week 3, to score over 20 points this season. Winston and the Browns will look to add their name to the list on Sunday.
If the Browns are to find success against the Chargers, the continued involvement of Chubb will be important to spark their rushing attack. Chubb had 16 attempts for 52 yards in Week 8, showing his strength with 39 yards after first contact.
"Nick Chubb is one of the best running backs in this league," S Derwin James Jr. said. "He has been for every year he's been in it. […] So, we just have to be ready, and everyone has to be there to tackle not just Nick Chubb, but all their backs."
