Trent Williams has seen enough to feel good about Nick Bosa’s recovery.
The 49ers left tackle, who lines up opposite Bosa in drills and walkthroughs even though they never share the field on Sundays, said the star pass rusher looks like himself again after the ACL injury that ended his season. Williams made the comments in a statement to reporters through a video clip posted by Ari Meirov on Sunday.
“I see him every day," he said. "I couldn't even tell he had an injury or came back from anything. ...
Most people, you can see something. ... Bosa looks better than he did before he got hurt last year. ...
It's a testament to his character.”
Williams isn’t a doctor, but at 38 he’s seen plenty of players work their way back from ACL tears, and he was comfortable giving Bosa his stamp of approval. Bosa’s last in-game action came on Sept. 21.
That’s welcome news for San Francisco, which has spent much of the past 12 months dealing with injuries across the roster. The situation got even more complicated when Kyle Shanahan was involved in a car accident weeks before training camp. The team said Shanahan suffered multiple broken bones and will not be able to handle all of the coaching duties while he recovers.
Chris Forester, Williams’ offensive line coach, will step in as needed.
49ers general manager John Lynch explained how that arrangement will work, according to a Sunday post from NBC Sports Bay Area.
"Chris is the acting head coach, but it is going to be very much a collective effort," Lynch said. "So, yeah, he’s going to be out front. ...
I'll address our team first, I'll hand it over to Chris. We'll probably do less team meetings, because Kyle usually sits up here and talks football for 30 minutes.
We're not going to try to replicate that."
With Forester taking on more responsibility, Williams and Bosa will see a different setup around the offensive line coach than usual. For now, though, the bigger takeaway is that Bosa’s health appears to be trending in the right direction.
In Other News...
Casey Schmitt Injury Suddenly Raised The Stakes For Giants Deadline
Casey Schmitts emergence has been one of the more important developments in the Giants infield this season, so seeing him leave Mondays game after an awkward moment rounding first base immediately changed the mood around the club. The third baseman has given San Francisco a much-needed boost at the position, and any interruption there comes at a time when the front office is already trying to sort out its deadline priorities.
For a team trying to balance present needs with longer-term decisions, even a brief absence can ripple through the roster conversation. Schmitts status now sits at the center of that uncertainty, and with the Giants still waiting on the next round of medical information, the deadline picture suddenly feels a lot less settled than it did a day ago. [Read more 🡒]
Matt Chapmans Return Just Raised The Giants Biggest Deadline Question
Matt Chapman has been out since late June, but the Giants are reportedly expecting him back this weekend, which puts his status on a collision course with the trade deadline. For a club trying to sort out its infield and its long-term direction at the same time, that kind of timing makes Chapman one of the more interesting names on the roster.
If he comes back looking healthy and moving without any lingering issues from the abdominal injury, he becomes a far more complicated decision than just an injured regular nearing a return. A player with Chapmans track record can still draw attention from teams looking for help at third base, and any move would have to be weighed against both his contract situation and the fact that he would control where he goes. [Read more 🡒]
Yankees Injury Crisis Could Pull Giants Into A Stunning Deadline Call
The Yankees outfield injury situation has already started to ripple beyond the Bronx, with Cody Bellinger among the key players sidelined and New York now staring at a roster picture that could force a deadline rethink. For the Giants, that kind of uncertainty matters because any club suddenly pushed into the market can change the temperature around trade talks fast, especially when the other side has useful outfield depth and a front office willing to listen.
That is where the speculation gets interesting for San Francisco, even if nothing official has been reported. A potential Yankees-Giants deal would have to thread a difficult needle, balancing immediate big-league help against the kind of prospect and salary questions that usually decide whether a deadline idea stays theoretical or turns into something real. For now, it is just a scenario worth watching, but the kind of injury-driven pressure New York is feeling can make even a surprising fit look a lot more plausible. [Read more 🡒]