The San Francisco 49ers have been hit awfully hard by injuries over the first three weeks, but few positions have been slammed harder than wide receiver and the defensive line.
Without Nick Bosa, Sam Okuayinonu, Alfred Collins and others, the Niners have been forced to patchwork pieces up front on the defensive side of the ball. Considering the 3-0 record, it's safe to assume San Francisco has done the best it can here.
But things are poised to get easier soon, hopefully.
On Wednesday, with a Week 4 home showdown looming against the Denver Broncos, head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters the 49ers were opening up the practice window for their first-round pick from last year's NFL Draft, defensive end Mykel Williams.
The 49ers opened the practice window for DL Mykel Williams, who remains on PUP after sustaining a torn ACL last season. The 2025 first-round draft pick is NOT eligible to play this week but could return as early as Week 5 against the Seahawks.
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) September 30, 2026
Shanahan pointed out it'd be very light for Williams at his return, and he wouldn't be eligible to play on Sunday against Denver.
But, suiting up in Week 5's highly anticipated showdown against the Seattle Seahawks is fully in play.
Mykel Williams is 1 solution to 49ers' numerous D-line problems
The Niners have already scrambled for interim options to fill gaps at defensive end, inking veteran pass-rusher Matt Judon to the practice squad with the hope he can beef up the depth chart. At least until Bosa's return, which is expected to be no less than three or four more weeks.
Williams, of course, isn't a Bosa-like edge rusher. Poised to set the edge on base downs, the 2025 first-rounder was intended to rotate inside for obvious passing situations.
While the Georgia product's pass-rush arsenal still needs a lot of refinement, his run-stopping abilities were apparent right out of the gate his rookie season, and San Francisco certainly won't complain about getting a proper edge setter back into the fray.
That said, Williams made it into only nine games his rookie season, and the lack of a full offseason program entering 2026 certainly hinders his development. No amount of practice ramps-up can make up for that lost time, so it might be a while before the 49ers fully feel the second-year pro's impact.
Still, the Niners sorely need bodies who can make a difference, and Williams can at least do that against the run right away.
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