The 49ers are battered again, but there’s at least one bit of encouraging news coming out of Santa Clara.
According to CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz, San Francisco has a “high level of confidence” that defensive end Mykel Williams will be ready to return in Week 5 against the Seattle Seahawks. Zenitz said on X on Thursday afternoon, "There’s a high level of confidence at this point that 2025 first-round pick Mykel Williams, who has been out since an ACL injury last November, will be able to return to action and play next week when SF faces Seattle, sources tell CBSSports."
Williams is still on the Physically Unable to Perform list for now, and he has not played since tearing his ACL in November 2025. But that status may be changing soon.
The timing matters for a San Francisco defense that keeps taking hits. This week, starters Mike Evans and Dre Greenlaw were added to the injury report, and neither practiced Wednesday or Thursday. Defensive end Keion White has also been sidelined with a hamstring injury and did not practice either.
The problems at defensive end, in particular, are piling up. Nick Bosa will miss the next few weeks because of a knee/calf injury.
White hasn’t practiced since getting hurt. Third-round rookie Romello Height is dealing with a hand injury and was limited in practice over the past two days.
If Williams can indeed make it back next week, the 49ers could use the help immediately. For now, Khalid Kareem and veteran Ogbo Okoronkwo are expected to start this weekend against the Broncos, with Villiami Fehoko Jr. and possibly practice squad additions Matthew Judon and Sebastian Valdez also in line for opportunities.
In Other News...
49ers Suddenly Have A Jauan Jennings Decision They Never Wanted
Jauan Jennings ended up moving on after he and the 49ers could not reach a long-term agreement, and the former San Francisco receiver signed a one-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings. For a team that already had to navigate injuries at wideout, the timing was hardly ideal. The 49ers responded by drafting DeZhaun Stribling to help fill the vacancy, but the position has still looked more precarious than planned.
Now the wrinkle the 49ers never wanted is hanging out there anyway: the possibility of a Jennings reunion. There has been speculation about it, even if no official trade talks have been confirmed, and that leaves San Francisco weighing a familiar name against the path it already started down with its younger options. The situation is exactly the kind of midseason personnel question teams try to avoid, especially when the original departure was supposed to settle things, not reopen them. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Are Making A Risky Nick Bosa Decision For A Reason
Nick Bosa and James Thompson are both expected to be sidelined for at least four games, but the 49ers are not planning to place either defender on injured reserve. It is a notable choice for a team already working through a crowded injury situation, especially with eight players currently on IR who are designated to return, which is the most the NFL allows.
For San Francisco, the move keeps the door open on roster flexibility while it manages a stretch shaped by injuries across the defense and beyond. The status of the current IR group already gives the team plenty to monitor in the weeks ahead, and holding Bosa and Thompson off IR adds another layer to a situation that will keep evolving as those return timelines come into focus. [Read more 🡒]
49ers May Need A Bigger Pass-Rush Move Than Fans Expected
The 49ers edge rush has become one of the more pressing issues on a roster that usually builds its identity around pressure up front. With Nick Bosa dealing with injury and the rest of the group providing limited production, San Francisco may be staring at a need that goes beyond the usual depth fix, especially if it wants to keep the defense operating at its usual level.
One name that has surfaced is Khalil Mack, with Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report suggesting the Chargers could be open to moving the veteran pass rusher. Mack still carries the rsum of a multiple-time Pro Bowl and All-Pro selection, but his one-year deal and looming free agency make him a player with an uncertain future, and for the 49ers the bigger question may be whether a move of that magnitude is the kind of swing their pass rush now requires. [Read more 🡒]