The 49ers are about to get a lift they badly need on a battered defensive front.
Defensive end Mykel Williams is set to make his 2026 season debut Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks, nearly a year after tearing his ACL and damaging the meniscus in his right knee in San Francisco’s November 2, 2025 matchup with the New York Giants. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said the team plans to activate Williams from the physically unable to perform list Saturday after two strong weeks of practice.
"He's had a good two weeks," Shanahan said."It was good last week, and this week's been even better. Ready to get him back out there on the field."
That return comes at the right moment for a defense that has been hit hard up front. Nick Bosa, Sam Okuayinonu, Alfred Collins, C.J. West and James Thompson Jr. have all been lost to injuries, leaving San Francisco thin and searching for answers along the line.
Williams gave the 49ers a solid rookie foundation before the injury wiped out his momentum. He played in nine games, finished with 20 tackles and one sack, and logged about 45 defensive snaps per game.
Now, he says he’s in a much better place physically - healthier, leaner and quicker - and eager to get back on the field.
"I'm losing my mind," Williams said about watching his teammates struggle through injuries. "I'm ready to go, though.
I'm excited to play ball. I miss playing ball."
He’ll step into a defensive end group that includes Keion White, Khalid Kareem and rookie Romello Height. Shanahan said Williams won’t be on a preset snap count, though the staff will keep an eye on how he’s handling things once the game starts.
"When he's out there, he'll be full go," Shanahan said.
The 49ers also got a positive update on wide receiver Mike Evans, who has been cleared to play despite a rib injury.
In Other News...
49ers Hot Start Suddenly Comes With A Roster Concern
A perfect start has not kept San Francisco from scanning the market for help as the NFL trade deadline nears. General manager John Lynch said the 49ers are still looking for ways to improve the roster, a familiar posture for a team that believes it can contend now and is trying to protect itself against the wear and tear that comes with a long season.
The concern is on the defensive side, where injuries have piled up and left the front short on depth. San Francisco has 16 players on injured reserve, though some expected returns are coming, and the team could still target reinforcements in the trenches, with an interior defender and an edge rusher among the spots under consideration. [Read more 🡒]
Christian McCaffrey Shares A Big Family Milestone During 49ers Season
Christian McCaffreys season has come with a major family milestone as well. The 49ers running back and his wife, Olivia Culpo, shared family photos on Oct. 10 announcing the birth of their second child, adding a personal highlight to an already busy stretch of football life in San Francisco.
The baby arrived on Sept. 29, and the timing was no accident. Culpo arranged the delivery around a 49ers off day so McCaffrey could be there, a detail that underscores how carefully the family worked to make the moment fit within the grind of the season. Friends, family and NFL connections quickly sent congratulations, and for McCaffrey, the newest chapter at home now runs alongside everything happening on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Niners Clash Took An Ugly Turn Fans Need To See
The 49ers matchup with Seattle got chippy in a hurry, and Dre Greenlaw found himself at the center of it late in the game. After a personal foul penalty for a late hit on Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, the San Francisco linebacker got into a sideline altercation that quickly escalated and put an already testy division game over the edge.
Greenlaw has never been shy about playing on a hot edge, and this latest scene only adds to that reputation after his previous profanity-laced confrontation with Broncos coach Sean Payton. For the 49ers, the concern is bigger than one ugly moment, because losing a defender like Greenlaw in that kind of fashion can shift the tenor of a game and leave the league watching closely afterward. [Read more 🡒]