Leonard Williams will be out there for the Seattle Seahawks in Week 5.
After leaving Week 4 with an ankle injury in the second half, Williams put in a limited session on Wednesday, sat out Thursday, then returned as a full participant Friday. That was enough to clear the way for him to start and play against the San Francisco 49ers, who sit atop the NFC West.
That’s a major lift for Seattle’s defense. Few players matter more to what Mike Macdonald wants this unit to be, and Williams’ presence gives the Seahawks a real shot at disrupting Brock Purdy.
That’s easier said than done, though. Purdy hasn’t taken a sack in four games, and getting consistent pressure on him will be a tough assignment for Seattle.
The Seahawks will still be shorthanded in a few spots. Running backs Zach Charbonnet and Jadarian Price are out, with Price on injured reserve and set to miss at least the next three games.
George Holani is questionable because of knee and rib injuries. Cornerback Julian Neal, dealing with a hamstring issue, is out, and linebacker Chazz Surratt will also miss the game with a calf injury.
San Francisco has injury concerns of its own. Edge rusher Nick Bosa, fullback Kyle Juszczyk, defensive tackle James Thompson Jr., and safety Marques Sigle are all out.
Several other 49ers are listed as questionable. Juszczyk’s absence stands out, since he remains such an important piece of Kyle Shanahan’s offense and is considered by many to be the best player at his position in the NFL.
Williams’ availability also fits the pattern of his career. He has rarely stayed down for long after injuries, and he’s shown he can work through pain. His injury log includes an MCL sprain in September 2022 that cost him three games, a neck strain in December 2022 that cost him two, a rib bruise in September 2024 that kept him out one game, and an ankle injury in October 2026 that did not lead to any missed games.
The September 2022 injury snapped a streak of 114 straight starts, but that remains the exception rather than the rule for Williams.
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