Trent Williams to return for 49ers against Jaguars after pushing team to play
The San Francisco 49ers desperately need Trent Williams back for the Week 10 matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and their All-Pro left tackle is determined to give them that boost. Williams status for a crucial game for the 5-3 49ers had been the subject of conflicting reports on Sunday morning. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Williams […]
The San Francisco 49ers desperately need Trent Williams back for the Week 10 matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and their All-Pro left tackle is determined to give them that boost.
Williams status for a crucial game for the 5-3 49ers had been the subject of conflicting reports on Sunday morning.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Williams was expected to play having missed the last two games of the Niners' three-game losing streak with an ankle injury. However, NFL Media's Ian Rapoport posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the 10-time Pro Bowler faced an "uphill battle" to go.
But Schefter later clarified Williams has expressly told the team he intends to play despite being not fully recovered from his injury.
On Friday, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan described Williams, listed as questionable, as "real questionable", an assessment with which the player agreed. Shanahan explained that the decision would depend on how Williams' ankle responded to two successive days of practice and the cross-country flight to Jacksonville.
Without Williams, the 49ers have averaged only 3.9 yards per play on the ground while suffering pass protection breakdowns at key moments in their recent defeats to the Minnesota Vikings and Cincinnati Bengals.
Jacksonville's pass rush is only ranked 29th by Pro Football Focus. However, the Jaguars possess a stud edge rusher in Josh Allen and had great success against the Pittsburgh Steelers with an array of stunts and creepers. The 49ers' hopes of protecting Brock Purdy from Jacksonville's deep defensive front will be exponentially greater with Williams on the field.
Williams playing while not being 100 percent is undoubtedly a huge risk that could impact the long-term health of his ankle. However, the 49ers are a team that has designs on winning the Super Bowl this season, and they need Williams out there for that to happen. The run of defeats must end and, as such, it is an understandable gamble.
Eight non-quarterback 49ers to watch in Week 10 at Jaguars
They’ll have a big say in the outcome.
