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NFL·INJURY·August 18, 2026 03:04 PM ET

49ers DE Mykel Williams a longshot for Week 1 opener

The setback compounds existing depth issues on the edge.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Aug 181 min read
Post on X
Shanahan now says Week 1 is “a longshot” for DE Mykel Williams (knee) but “he is progressing well.” #49ers Via @VicTafur on X

What happened: San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan deemed Mykel Williams unlikely to play in the season opener due to a knee injury. The team noted the defensive end is progressing well in his recovery.

Why it matters: San Francisco is already navigating multiple edge injuries as training camp concludes. Losing last year's first-round pick removes a projected contributor from the early-season pass-rush rotation.

What to watch: Monitor practice participation reports throughout August. The team will need to finalize its defensive front if Williams remains sidelined for the opener.

Sources

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