Get ready for this: 49ers’ first-round pick Mykel Williams, out with a torn ACL last season, just had his practice window opened, meaning he could be back on the field as early as Week 5. And yeah, that’s against our Seattle Seahawks. The defensive lineman, a 2025 first-rounder, returned to practice Wednesday, the first time since his injury. He’s not eligible to play this week, but that Week 5 matchup is now officially circled.
Brock Purdy’s Secret Sauce? It’s Not What You Think
Meanwhile, down in Santa Clara, the buzz around Brock Purdy is getting real. Some folks are seeing serious shades of Jalen Brunson in his game, and honestly, the more you think about it, the more it makes sense. It’s not about being a physical freak like a Wemby dunking from the three-point line. Nah, this is a mental game. We’re talking about winning with pure intangibles: craftiness, toughness, smarts, using angles, incredible footwork, perfect timing, and pinpoint accuracy. It’s a different kind of dominance, one that’s actually way more crucial for winning games when it matters.
Think about how Brunson has just leveled up every single year since his early Mavs days, always adding something new, understanding the game better, hitting his spots quicker. That kind of relentless, continual improvement in a player who’s already so finesse-oriented and thinks the game so well, it just screams Purdy. Those tight-window throws Purdy drops on the run? Brunson’s crazy midrange stepbacks in the Finals? They look like magic, but that’s years of grinding, film study, and pure growth. Straight up, people are just “wish casting” that Purdy ends up with Brunson’s career outcome. That’s the vibe.
Niners D-Line Getting Nasty, And Deebo’s Back
Speaking of the Niners, their defensive line is doing some serious work. Keion White is apparently an absolute beast on stunts, a pick player extraordinaire. This dude consistently plows through a guard’s face, taking out two interior linemen to open up a free rush for the looper. There was even this one play where White and Greenlaw pulled off a double pick to try and free Osa Odighizuwa, but even though Tyler Allgeier picked up Osa, White still managed to get through two blockers. He even went unblocked on a simulated pressure. Khalid Kareem had a great rep too, so it’s not just White making plays.
The Niners have also been experimenting in the secondary, trying out Malik Mustapha and Marques Sigle on the field together, then Mustapha and Ji’Ayir Brown. The word is the Mustapha/Sigle combo is preferred, even though Brown is probably the best communicator back there. And hey, remember all the noise about Deebo Samuel being ‘washed’ or ‘fat’? Head coach Shanahan pushed back hard on that, saying Samuel’s usually in great shape for the season. But, he did admit there was “some truth” to the chatter, suggesting maybe Deebo wasn’t always at peak condition. Regardless, Samuel is apparently back to being a top receiver for them.
So, while the Niners are over there wish-casting their QB and getting their defense dialed, we’ll be watching closely to see if Mykel Williams actually lines up against our boys in Week 5. That’s the real game changer for us. Get ready, 12s, because that matchup is going to be something to see.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Niners Nation.
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