The San Francisco 49ers have no shortage of talent. Unfortunately, a good chunk of their foundational players who will be relied upon this upcoming season are returning from injuries.
Star tight end George Kittle tore his Achilles in January. Edge rushers Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams are coming off torn ACLs. All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner dislocated his ankle, which ended his ‘25 season.
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Then there are the players who missed time with injury last season, or have an injury history that you cannot ignore. Mike Evans, Trent Williams, Brock Purdy, and Dre Greenlaw all fall under this category.
My answer: We know, for the most part, what to expect from everybody besides one player. That’s the rookie from 2025. We don’t know if some of Mykel’s athleticism will be zapped from a knee injury. We’re not sure if it’ll take him longer to return or look like the player the 49ers had hoped he’d become.
Every player has question marks. Williams being so young should work in his favor. But again, that’s just us assuming his youth is a benefit.
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What if Williams never finds his footing? What if he’s more tentative than ever and loses the kind of aggression that made him a top 15 pick? Of course, this is a glass half empty approach. Mykel’s game was never predicated on gaudy get-off numbers, like a Romello Height. Williams is a power player.
Which player are you most concerned about?
