Williams (knee) was moved to the reserve/PUP list by the 49ers on Sunday.
Williams is still recovering from a torn ACL that he suffered in November 2025, and he was unable to practice or play during the preseason. The 22-year-old will now be forced to miss at least four contests to open the regular season, and the earliest he'll be able to return to action is Week 5 against the Seahawks on Oct. 11.
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49ers' Mykel Williams: Opening training camp on PUP
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The 49ers placed Williams (knee) on the active/PUP list Saturday, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Williams is still working his way back from a torn ACL he suffered in November 2025 and will now be sidelined indefinitely. The 22-year-old can be activated at any time and is expected to serve as one of the team's starting outside linebackers during the upcoming campaign.
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49ers' Mykel Williams: Diagnosed with torn ACL
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Head coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday that Williams tore his ACL during the fourth quarter of Sunday's 34-24 win over the Giants, Matt Barrows and Dianna Russini of The Athletic report.
Shanahan noted that there was some damage to the lateral meniscus in Williams' knee but no other ligament damage beyond the ACL, which means the rookie first-rounder has a chance to be available for the start of the 2026 campaign. It's yet another season-ending injury for the 49ers defense, with Williams stepping into a larger role on the defensive line after Nick Bosa tore his ACL in Week 3 against the Cardinals and All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner lost for the season after dislocating and fracturing his right ankle in Week 6 against the Buccaneers. Fellow defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos will miss at least three more games while on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury, but veteran Bryce Huff (hamstring) is expected to return from a two-game absence against the Rams in Week 10. In the absence of Bosa, Gross-Matos and now Williams, the 49ers will rely more heavily on the likes of Huff, Sam Okuayinonu, Clelin Ferrell and Keion White (who was traded by New England to San Francisco this past Tuesday) at defensive end. Barrows and Russini also note that the 49ers are looking to add to the position before Tuesday's 4 p.m. ET deadline and have shown interest in Jaelan Phillips (who the Eagles acquired from the Dolphins on Monday), Bradley Chubb and Matthew Judon.
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49ers' Mykel Williams: Practices in full
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Williams logged a full practice session Wednesday, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
Williams suffered a wrist injury in 49ers' win over Arizona on Sunday, but he was able to return. His full practice session Wednesday suggests he should be ready to suit up for a Week 4 matchup against Jacksonville.
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49ers' Mykel Williams: Back in action
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Williams (wrist) has returned to Sunday's contest against the Cardinals, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Williams exited the game in the second quarter with a wrist injury, but he has now returned to action. With Nick Bosa (knee) done for the day, Williams will have an increase in importance the rest of the way in Week 3.
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49ers' Mykel Williams: Questionable to return Week 3
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Williams is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Cardinals due to a wrist injury, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
Williams appeared to suffer the injury in the second quarter and was seen running to the locker room after being initially checked on by trainers in the blue medical tent. With Nick Bosa (knee) also questionable to return, the 49ers are down to Yetur Gross-Matos, Bryce Huff and Sam Okuayinonu as their defensive ends.
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49ers' Mykel Williams: Full participant in practice
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Williams (knee) practiced in full Wednesday, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
The rookie first-rounder ended up missing all three of the 49ers' preseason games due to a knee injury that he suffered in early August. Williams was able to log a full practice to open the week, indicating that he is on track to make his NFL regular-season debut against the Seahawks on Sunday. He's expected to see a prominent role on the 49ers' defensive front alongside Nick Bosa, Kalia Davis and Jordan Elliott.
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49ers' Mykel Williams: Hurts knee Thursday
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Williams is unlikely to suit up for Saturday's preseason game against Denver after exiting Thursday's practice due to a knee injury, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan relayed after Thursday's practice that Williams will likely miss around a week, adding that the team hopes Williams only hyper-extended his knee. Shanahan's language suggests additional tests may be needed to confirm the nature of the rookie first-round pick's knee injury. Williams dealt with an unrelated ankle injury earlier in training camp.
The 49ers selected Williams in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 11th overall.
Although Williams (6-foot-5, 260 pounds) is likely capable of starting Week 1, especially for a San Francisco defensive line in the midst of a rebuild, he's still early in his development and probably has more long-term upside than his Georgia box score might lead someone to believe. Williams will turn 21 on June 29, meaning he's at least a year ahead of schedule after otherwise serving as Georgia's lead edge rusher the past three years. If Williams trends toward his higher-range outcomes, he and Nick Bosa would likely prove a dominant duo.
