The San Francisco 49ers’ 2025 first-round pick, Mykel Williams, is officially a “longshot” for their Week 1 matchup. This isn’t just some minor setback for the Niners; it’s a huge red flag waving before the 2026 NFL season even kicks off, especially for a team that’s been consistently battling injuries.
Mykel Williams’ Week 1 Status Stings For San Francisco
This is a gut punch for the 49ers. Mykel Williams, the 22-year-old edge rusher out of Georgia, was taken at No. 11 overall just last year. Now, according to Kyle Shanahan, via Vic Tafur of The Athletic, Week 1 is a “longshot” for the young pass rusher, even though he’s “progressing well.” Shanahan’s exact words were, “Shanahan now says Week 1 is a ‘longshot’ for DE Mykel Williams (knee), but ‘he is progressing well.’ #49ers.” Remember, his rookie season got cut short by a torn ACL, limiting him to just nine games. It’s a rough start to a promising career, and for a team with high hopes, this kind of news before the first snap is tough. The Week 1 game is even overseas in Australia, which might be why they’re thinking of holding him back, similar to what they might do with George Kittle.
The Ripple Effect: More Than Just One Game
The real problem isn’t just Week 1. If Williams is a longshot for the opener, there are some serious questions about his readiness for the “next couple of weeks” too. We’re talking about the real possibility of him landing on injured reserve to start the year, which means he’d miss a minimum of four games. That would sting big time, losing Williams for Weeks 1-4. The silver lining, if you can call it that, is placing him on IR would give the 49ers an extra roster spot to use, and it gives Williams all the time he needs to recover fully. It’s a long season, and rushing a first-round edge rusher back from a torn ACL just isn’t worth it.
Across the League: Early Season Injury Woes and the Emerald City’s Own News
It seems like early season injury reports are already hitting hard around the league. The Vikings are dealing with their own pain, losing Jamal Adams to a brutal season-ending injury, and the Cowboys went out and signed eight-time Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl champ Von Miller. For us here in the Emerald City, there’s even some news hitting home with the Seahawks: our own 2nd-round safety Bud Clark got some bad news about his starting job for Week 1. It’s a stark reminder that every team faces challenges as the season gets underway.
As for the 49ers, their Week 1 opponent isn’t named in the source, but no matter who they play, kicking off the year without a key first-round talent like Mykel Williams puts them in a tough spot right out of the gate. Here’s hoping he can get healthy and make an impact later in the year, but for now, San Francisco is playing with an early handicap.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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