The San Francisco 49ers might be sitting pretty at 3-0 after beating the Arizona Cardinals 36-30 on Sunday, but that win definitely came at a cost. Three of their key starters, wide receiver Mike Evans, offensive tackle Trent Williams, and linebacker Dre Greenlaw, all exited the game with what looked like serious injuries. Evans was carted off struggling to breathe from a rib issue, Williams also needed a cart for a stinger, and Greenlaw went down in the fourth quarter in a whole lot of pain with a quad contusion. For a minute there, it felt like the sky was falling in Santa Clara.
The Injury Scare That Almost Collapsed Week 4
Luckily for our rivals to the south, head coach Kyle Shanahan dropped some encouraging news on Monday. Apparently, all three guys are “kind of in the same boat” and their injuries “aren’t considered long-term.” They’ll need to be managed carefully this week, but Evans, Greenlaw, and Williams all have a shot at suiting up this Sunday against the Denver Broncos. It sounds like Williams is the most likely to play, even telling reporters he downplayed his neck stinger. Shanahan is actually aiming for the 38-year-old offensive tackle to practice Thursday. As for Greenlaw, he left the Cardinals game, came back for one play, then was shut down again. He had a quad issue last season in Denver, but it’s unclear if this is the same leg. Evans’ “rib issue” hasn’t been fully clarified by Shanahan, but ESPN and NFL Network are reporting it as a day-to-day rib strain. It’s early in Week 4, so managing these veterans is key for them.
A Week 5 Boost That’s Coming Straight For Your Seahawks
But here’s where it gets interesting for us Emerald City faithful: the 49ers are also getting some serious reinforcements back. Shanahan said they expect to open the practice window this week for defensive end Mykel Williams, who’s been working his way back from a torn ACL. This 2025 first-round pick could be ready to play as soon as Week 5, and guess who’s on the schedule? Yep, our Seattle Seahawks. Williams’ “inside-out versatility” would be a big boost for their defensive line, which they’ve definitely needed. Plus, rookie defensive end Romello Height, who had hand surgery last Tuesday, is also “expected to practice this week.” Not everyone’s cleared for Sunday though, with defensive end Nick Bosa (calf/knee) and defensive tackle James Thompson Jr. (high ankle sprain) definitely out against Denver, who just pulled off a gutsy win against the Rams on Sunday Night Football.
So, while the 49ers dodged a bullet with those key starters, the biggest news for us Seattle fans is the potential return of Mykel Williams just in time for our Week 5 matchup. You know Mike Macdonald and the boys will be watching closely to see who’s actually on the field for San Francisco next week. We know what’s at stake every time we face those guys. Get ready for a fight, Seattle!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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