San Francisco 49ers: Predicting the 5 most surprising roster cuts of 2018
By Peter Panacy
No. 4: Running Back Joe Williams
An inconsistent and frustrating training camp and preseason in 2017 ultimately led to running back Joe Williams winding up redshirted with an ankle injury his rookie year.
San Francisco 49ers
The former fourth-round pick was overtaken on the depth chart by fellow 2017 rookie runner Matt Breida, who is in line to hold the No. 2 spot on the 53-man roster this season behind Jerick McKinnon. And special teams ace Raheem Mostert could wind up as the Niners’ third-tier option.
Given a pass his first year, Williams knows he’ll have to wholly outperform either Breida or Mostert during camp. It’s something head coach Kyle Shanahan pointed out too, via Jennifer Lee Chan of Niners Nation (h/t Chris Biderman of Niners Wire):
"He’s got to beat guys out. In order to beat guys out you got to be better than them – better than them at running the ball, better than them at protecting it. And if you’re not, you got to be better than them at special teams. So you end up keeping three, sometimes four running backs. It’s going to be a fun competition to watch this year."
Shanahan has since praised Williams for his work this offseason. But that won’t guarantee the former Utah tailback anything.
Especially considering how the position is pretty deep already. And for those assuming Williams can push out Mostert for a roster spot, one has to remember the latter was one of the best special teamers in the NFL a season ago.
It’s very possible Williams doesn’t make the cut — a surprising development, considering the high hopes for the talented-yet-inconsistent tailback.