49ers inactives vs. Rams: Trent Williams being out is a huge loss

The 49ers are going to be shorthanded at a number of key positions versus the Rams, and losing left tackle Trent Williams is a massive blow.

The San Francisco 49ers picked a bad week to have two of their top contributors out with injuries.

The Niners won’t have perennial Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams active for their Week 18 must-win contest versus the Los Angeles Rams, as Williams suffered an elbow injury during the Week 17 win over the Houston Texans.

In his place, San Francisco is likely to start rookie swing offensive lineman Jaylon Moore, or potentially second-year pro Colton McKivitz, with backup tackle Tom Compton already filling in for Mike McGlinchey at right tackle.

Not exactly a good proposition versus a Rams defense featuring perennial All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald.

For the 49ers, it’s a “win and get in” scenario for the playoffs. If the Niners lose, they’ll no longer control their own destiny and will have to rely on the Atlanta Falcons to pull off a win versus the New Orleans Saints, a game also kicking off at 4:25 p.m. ET, the same time as San Francisco versus LA.

49ers inactives for Week 18 vs. Rams

Williams isn’t the only notable absence for Week 18.

In addition to the Pro Bowl left tackle, the 49ers will be shorthanded within their secondary, as nickel cornerback K’Waun Williams was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list but won’t be active for Sunday.

Here’s the list of Week 18 inactives for the Niners:

• LT Trent Williams
• CB K’Waun Williams
• LB Azeez Al-Shaair
• S Jarrod Wilson
• LB Marcell Harris
• DL Maurice Hurst

If there’s some solace, San Francisco will get back cornerback Emmanuel Moseley, who missed the last three weeks with an ankle injury and landed on injured reserve.

Moseley and Co. will have a tough challenge ahead of them against Rams Pro Bowl wide receiver Cooper Kupp, who entered Week 18 with the league lead in receptions (138), receiving yards (1,829) and receiving touchdowns (15).

Related Story: 49ers have a good history bottling up Rams WR Cooper Kupp

Jimmy Garoppolo appears poised to start for 49ers vs. Rams

After missing Week 17 with a thumb injury, giving way to rookie quarterback Trey Lance securing his first-ever win at the NFL level, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo appears as if he’ll be head coach Kyle Shanahan’s starter against Los Angeles.

Garoppolo was warming up with a brace on his injured hand, and that’ll surely be something to monitor when he and the 49ers offense take the field.

Although it might not be too shocking to see Shanahan insert Lance in some specific packages, not unlike what the offense did earlier this season.

Kickoff between these two teams will be at 4:25 p.m. ET from SoFI Stadium in Inglewood, California.