Trent Williams is questionable for Week 11 against the Seahawks, but the 49ers should elect to rest him for the game and let his ankle heal up.
The San Francisco 49ers’ Week 10 road win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers did a good deal of damage.
Defensive end Nick Bosa was banged up with a hip issue, tight end George Kittle aggravated his hamstring and punter Mitch Wishnowsky did something to his back, which could potentially land him on injured reserve after dealing with a similar injury back in training camp.
On top of that, perennial All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams is dealing with an ankle injury of his own.
Bosa, Kittle and Williams, among others, were all listed as questionable for the Niners’ Week 11 home game against the 4-5 Seattle Seahawks. And while it’s a bit more difficult to determine whether or not they’ll all play, considering the NFL did away with the “probable” designation during the offseason, signs seem a little bleaker from the weakside offensive line protector.
During his Friday press conference, head coach Kyle Shanahan seemed to be a bit less enthusiastic about Williams being able to go on Sunday.
“[The ankle] just has been hurting all week and thought he’d be able to go today, couldn’t,” Shanahan said of Williams’ injury. “Hopefully, he’ll be better tomorrow and good to go, but we’ll have all the way up to kickoff for him.”
When asked if he knew which ankle was bothering Williams, Shanahan wasn’t sure.
Regardless, if San Francisco’s best offensive lineman needs a break to recover, Week 11 against the Hawks is probably the best time to have it happen.
49ers should give Trent Williams a break vs. Seahawks if injury is too bad
At the bottom of the NFC West, Seattle hasn’t exactly been a thorn in the 49ers’ side in recent seasons, and the Niners already won their in-division matchup against these rivals back in Week 6.
From a pound-for-pound matchup, the Seahawks don’t exactly offer a formidable pass-rushing matchup, boasting only 21 sacks on the year, which is ninth fewest in the league.
Edge Derick Hall might be the Hawks’ No. 1 pass-rushing threat, leading his defense with five sacks on the year and having a three-game stretch between Weeks 3 and 5 where he recorded at least one sack.
Much like San Francisco behind Bosa, though, Seattle doesn’t exactly boast an array of potent pass-rushers who are putting up the numbers this year.
That affords the 49ers an opportunity to rest Williams despite his own desire to keep quarterback Brock Purdy upright.
In his stead, San Francisco would likely insert swing tackle Jaylon Moore.
While the Niners can look at Week 11 as a crucial game, given how packed the NFC West is at this point in the year, resting Williams might have better long-term ramifications in order to keep the 36-year-old future Hall of Famer from further injury while allowing him to stay fresh.
The 49ers and Seahawks kick off on Sunday, Nov. 17 at 4:05 p.m. ET.
