The San Francisco 49ers made their pass rush a major focus point this offseason when they selected former Georgia Bulldogs standout edge rusher Mykel Williams with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Williams had impressed at camp thus far and was taking reps alongside Nick Bosa at the opposite DE spot along the defensive line. With plans of Williams and Bosa being their bookend edge rushers for the foreseeable future, San Francisco's coaching staff and front office were forced to hold their breath on Thursday when Williams went down with a knee injury and was forced to leave the field.
While the official diagnosis of the injury Williams suffered has yet to be revealed, Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan did his best to eliminate concerns of the worst-case scenario during his time with the media after practice. According to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle, Shanahan and San Francisco's medical team are "hopeful" it is simply a hyperextension following a "good exam" on his knee.
Kyle Shanahan said DL Mykel Williams had a “good exam” on his knee and the hope is he suffered a hypertension. #49ers
— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) August 7, 2025
49ers Hopeful Mykel Williams Avoided Disastrous Injury at Camp Practice
Until we receive official word on the injury, being hopeful about Williams and his status moving forward is about as good a spot as the Niners and their fans can be in. The waiting game is never fun to play, but that is all Shanahan and the organization can do right now.
With Williams having shown the versatility to play on the edge as well as the inside along the defensive line, losing him for any significant period would be a blow to San Francisco's defensive front. Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh has made it clear just how important Williams can be up front for the Niners based on his physical build and motor alone. The only thing that could hold him back is not getting the necessary reps to master the team's defensive scheme.
"Even if it was a discussion, it wouldn't take long because look at him," Saleh said about Williams being a starter as a rookie. "He's very powerful. He's got great hands... Every day he is just going to get better and prove that he belongs."
Now, the hope is that this is nothing more than a hyperextension, and Williams will not miss out on those important reps he needs to get better and prove his worth as an elite defensive lineman in this league.