The 49ers rolled past the Raiders on Sunday, hanging 38 points on Las Vegas and moving to 7-1. But even in a game that looked comfortable on the scoreboard, there were still some rough edges for San Francisco to sort through.
One of the biggest concerns is Mykel Williams, and it’s getting harder to brush aside. The edge rusher was on the field for 16 pass-rush snaps and came away with no sacks and no pressures. That kind of empty outing is starting to feel familiar.
Williams has been stuck in that lane for a while now, and the numbers are beginning to tell a blunt story. San Francisco took him 11th overall out of Georgia, expecting him to grow into Nick Bosa’s long-term partner off the edge.
Instead, the two barely got a chance to build that future together. They shared the field for only three games in 2025 before Bosa tore his ACL, and Williams followed six games later with a season-ending injury of his own.
He returned this year against the Seahawks, but the comeback didn’t spark much. Four games into his sophomore season, the production still isn’t there.
Through 13 career games, Williams has only two sacks. That leaves him trailing Keion White, the midseason addition from last year, who has already more than tripled that total this season with 3.5.
For a player drafted that high, the lack of impact is becoming impossible to ignore. Young pass rushers need time, sure, but teams eventually have to decide whether the growth is coming or whether they’re waiting on something that isn’t going to arrive. Williams is getting close to that line.
That matters even more because the 49ers are already searching for help off the edge before the deadline. Williams’ struggles may be the nudge John Lynch needs to act.
A lot of people hoped 2026 would be the year Williams finally looked like the player San Francisco thought it was getting. So far, it’s been more of the same. And at some point, the 49ers may have to stop waiting and start leaning harder on the players who are actually producing each week.
In Other News...
49ers Suddenly Have A Real Pass Rush Decision To Make
The 49ers came away with a win over the Raiders, but the pass rush did not look quite as disruptive as expected even with five turnovers on the board. That kind of uneven pressure can be easy to overlook in the moment, yet it matters for a defense that wants to keep dictating games the way San Francisco usually does.
One possible answer has surfaced elsewhere in the league, and it comes with a wrinkle worth watching. Will McDonald IV has become a name to monitor after reports of dissatisfaction with his role in New York, and the 49ers could have reason to explore whether he fits their defensive line picture after rookie Gracen Halton's injury. For now, the question is less about whether San Francisco could use another edge option and more about how realistic that pursuit might be. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Rivalry Put The 49ers In Focus For The Wrong Reason
The preseason meeting between the 49ers and Raiders at Levis Stadium was supposed to be about football, but the rivalry again spilled far beyond the field. Multiple brawls broke out among fans in the stands and in the parking lot, turning a familiar Bay Area matchup into a scene of repeated violent altercations.
The bad blood between the franchises has long meant extra security and a heightened edge around these games, yet the incidents still escalated before law enforcement could get them under control. Video from the stadium showed fans from both sides trading punches and struggling through the seats as others tried to step in, a reminder that this rivalry can still overshadow the game itself. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Suddenly Have A Trade Deadline Dilemma At Wide Receiver
The 49ers have found themselves dealing with a wide receiver issue that is bigger than the usual trade-deadline shopping list. Brandon Aiyuk remains on the reserve/left squad list while he seeks reinstatement to the NFL, and the league is requiring him to repay roughly $13 million in bonuses as part of the process. San Francisco and general manager John Lynch are working with the NFL Management Council on a resolution, all while the team tries to keep its receiver room together through a stretch of injuries.
That backdrop has only added fuel to the speculation around what the 49ers might do before the deadline, especially with a potential move involving George Pickens being openly discussed around the league, even if nothing has been confirmed. For a team trying to stay competitive now and sort out its long-term receiver picture at the same time, the next few days could bring a decision that says plenty about how urgently San Francisco wants to address the position. [Read more 🡒]