The 49ers have already battled crop wounds under Kyle Shanahan. They seem to start again. With quarterback Trey Lance and running back Elijah Mitchell already sidelined indefinitely, San Francisco lost perhaps its biggest name yet in Sunday night’s Week 3 loss to the Broncos. Left tackle Trent Williams came off during the third quarter of the game, and coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters afterward that the All-Pro lineman likely suffered a sprained ankle, which could put him on the line. away for weeks.
A year after landing a record $138 million contract extension, Williams, 34, limped off midway through the third quarter after suffering leg pain. He previously blocked Broncos passer Bradley Chubb, during the play in which 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo accidentally fell out of his own end zone for a safety. Medical staff prepared a cart to potentially take Williams back to the locker room, but the lineman eventually left with help.
Williams was quickly ruled out for the rest of the game, usually a sign that an injury was more serious, and replaced with second-year backup Jaylon Moore. Further tests will confirm Williams’ exact diagnosis, but a sprained ankle would likely keep him out of action for an average of four to six weeks.
That would potentially be bad news for Shanahan’s offense, which relies heavily on the line to establish a solid running game, as well as to keep Garoppolo on his feet. With Mitchell injured, as well as fellow running back Tyrion Davis-Price, the 49ers turned to backing up Jeff Wilson Jr. as the primary running back, while also dishing out carries to receiver Deebo Samuel. Williams, meanwhile, is generally considered one of, if not the, best left tackles in the NFL.