On Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers had their way with the Las Vegas Raiders. The red and gold put up 38 points in the contest as they flexed their offensive muscles to a tune of 7-1.
That's not to say there weren't a few sobering headlines. Various injuries and under-performers were still prevalent on both sides of the ball, including one that can no longer be ignored.
Edge rusher Mykel Williams rushed the passer 16 times, recording zero sacks and zero pressures. Unfortunately, it's nothing the 49ers haven't seen out of him before.
Williams' bare stat sheet is a trend that has been going on for too long now, and it's becoming increasingly clear Williams is not who the Niners thought he would be.
The edge rusher was drafted 11th overall out of the University of Georgia. Thought to be Nick Bosa's running mate of the future, the tandem only played three games together in 2025 before Bosa tore his ACL. Williams followed suit just six games later with his own season-ending injury.
Mykel Williams has done nothing to help the 49ers' pass rush, and the clock is ticking
Williams returned from injury earlier this year against the Seattle Seahawks, but he failed to make an impact in the season debut. Now four games into his sophomore campaign, he has little to show for his efforts.
Through his first 13 professional games, Williams has recorded just two sacks. He is currently running behind last year's mid-season acquisition, Keion White. The latter has more than tripled Williams' sack total this year with 3.5.
The lackluster play of Mykel Williams can no longer be ignored. Often it takes time for young draftees to develop, but there comes a point where an organization has to make a decision. The choice of what to do with Williams is looming, as he is dangerously approaching "bust" territory.
With the 49ers already looking for pass-rushing help ahead of the deadline, Williams' failures might just be the push John Lynch needs to pull the trigger.
At the end of the day, the edge rusher's disappointing performances have been culminating for some time. Many hoped 2026 would bring a revamped version of the former Bulldog, but it appears that the new season is just more of the same. It may be time for the 49ers to cut their losses and focus on those who are producing on a weekly basis.
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