49ers' Williams injures hamstring, set for further testing
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The San Francisco 49ers' offense lost Trent Williams to a right hamstring injury on the first play of Sunday night's win over the Chicago Bears.
Minutes after the wild 42-38 victory, the 49ers still didn't know how much time their star left tackle might miss.
"I'm not sure," 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. "He tried to go and he couldn't. Trent told me he hadn't pulled a hamstring before, so I'm not really sure how it'll be."
Williams will have further testing on the injury Monday and will have one fewer day to recover this week because the Niners will face the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday night with the NFC West division title and the top seed in the NFC on the line.
The injury happened just 15 seconds into the game, when 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy threw right for receiver Jauan Jennings. Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson tipped the throw into the air, allowing Bears linebacker T.J. Edwardsto intercept it and race 34 yards for a touchdown.
Williams wasn't near Edwards when he intercepted the pass but attempted to chase him down to prevent the score before pulling up and reaching for his right hamstring. Williams immediately went to the medical tent, where he stayed for San Francisco's ensuing drive.
When Williams emerged a few minutes later, he took off his gloves and tape, a sign that he was unlikely to return. The team ruled him out to open the second half.
Austen Pleasants, who had played 12 offensive snaps this season entering Sunday night, replaced Williams in the lineup and appeared to hold up well. San Francisco's offense posted a season-high 496 yards and averaged 7.3 yards per play.
"To play that whole game and to not be an issue, I think I only talked about him on one third down," Shanahan said of Pleasants. "My sense is he played really good."
Williams has yet to miss a game this season after an ankle injury cost him the final seven games of 2024. He was named to his 12th Pro Bowl last week, the most ever for an offensive tackle.
