Trent Williams missed almost all of the 49ers’ 42-38 win, going down with a hamstring injury sustained as he attempted to make a tackle on Brock Purdy‘s first-play pick-six. The future Hall of Fame left tackle is undergoing tests today, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. While this injury does not appear set to move Williams to IR, Rapoport points to a Week 18 absence being likely. The 49ers, after all, somewhat surprisingly (given their Seattle matchup’s importance) drew a short-week assignment for their regular-season finale.
Although the 49ers’ most notable injuries have involved season-enders (or apparent season-enders in Fred Warner‘s case), this heightens the importance of the team earning the NFC’s bye slot. Williams and George Kittle having recovery weeks would certainly be beneficial to this unlikely Super Bowl contender’s quest.
Here is the latest out of San Francisco:
- After three DNPs last week, Kittle missed the 49ers’ shootout win over the Bears. Swelling in the All-Pro tight end’s injured ankle prevented him from conducting a planned pregame workout, according to NBC’s Melissa Stark, leading to the Week 17 shutdown. Kittle, who came off IR earlier this season following a hamstring injury, expects to play in the 49ers’ Week 18 matchup. Charting the likely Hall of Famer’s practice log will be key, but Kittle appears to be readying to be available when the team matches up with the Seahawks for home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs.
- Warner’s comeback remains a talking point. Despite suffering a dislocated ankle in Week 6, the All-Pro linebacker said during NBC’s pregame show he has “a chance” to come back during the playoffs. No divisional-round return is expected, with Rapoport adding Warner’s earliest return point would likely come if the 49ers advance to the NFC championship game. This aligns with recent reporting on the linebacker’s recovery. This is generally a four- to six-month injury; as recently as late November, Kyle Shanahan said he did not expect Warner back until the 2026 season. But Rapoport points to the eighth-year defender returning in a partial role as a viable scenario should the 49ers’ season extend into late January.
- The 49ers have used five of their eight regular-season injury activations. In decent shape here, the 12-4 team will receive two more activations once the playoffs begin. One of those figures to go to Jacob Cowing, who has missed the entire season. Shanahan said Cowing — a 2024 fourth-round pick — was close to practicing in Week 17; the ninth-year HC expects Cowing’s IR-return window to open this week, The Athletic’s Matt Barrows notes. That would make Cowing, who has lingered on IR since late August due to a nagging hamstring injury, eligible to be activated ahead of Week 18. Cowing caught four passes for 80 yards last season.
- One of the wideouts the 49ers have needed to rely on due to the injuries to Cowing, Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings this season — one also featuring a Brandon Aiyuk no-show — Kendrick Bourne reached an incentive during the 49ers’ Week 16 win over the Colts. Returning to the 49ers in September following a Patriots release, Bourne triggered a $500K incentive by surpassing 500 receiving yards, Stark noted (h/t Awful Announcing). Bourne has 551 yards; he can earn another $250K bump by reaching 600.
Bourne has helped alot. I didnt realize he had more yardage than Pearsall. McCaffrey is wearing down though and Robinson needs to get more touches. We will see if Kittle plays because the Hawks are going to be a load for this defense.