Tag: Trent Williams

Trent Williams headed to San Francisco to finalize contract

The Trent Williams holdout drama is coming to an end

Another key piece of the San Francisco 49ers is heading back into the fold of the NFC West champions.

The great offensive tackle Trent Williams was heading to San Francisco on a plane Monday to end his holdout.

Williams’ reps at Elite Sports posted the news on social media.

Brock Purdy & Co. will be thrilled to have the left tackle in place, especially for Week One when they face Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets on Sept. 9.

Update: The deal is done and the numbers are huge (like Williams).

49ers check final offseason box, agree to reworked contract with Trent Williams

The 49ers and Trent Williams are finalizing a new deal to get him back with the team

The San Francisco 49ers are checking their final offseason box just days before the start of the season.

Not long after wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk agreed to his long-term contract extension, the 49ers and left tackle Trent Williams are finalizing a reworked deal that will get him back in the mix for 2024.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the adjusted contract is being finalized and Williams has a chance to play in Week 1 against the New York Jets on Monday Night Football.

https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1830947366624428502

Mike Garafolo of NFL Network also reported Williams’ agent texted him that there are “still a few things to work through but close enough to report today,” so the deal is going to get done. Terms of the deal have not yet been reported, however.

Dianna Russini of The Athletic added that the two sides have “agreed to a contract extension” and “his holdout is over.”

This contract ends the holdout that kept Williams out of training camp and the preseason. Williams, 36, had no guaranteed money left on the six-year, $138.06 million deal he signed during the 2021 offseason.

His new deal presumably guarantees money for the four-time All-Pro as he enters the twilight of his Hall-of-Fame career.

Even as he enters his 14th NFL season, Williams is still playing at a high level. He’s been a First-Team All-Pro in each of the last three years, while earning overall grades of 89.9 or above in each of the last four seasons from Pro Football Focus.

There will be a roster move that corresponds with Williams’ return. He was on the reserve/did-not-report list so he did not count against the 49ers’ roster. To move him to the active roster, San Francisco will have to cut a player since they’re already at the 53-player maximum.

It remains to be seen if Williams will play against the Jets, but Jaylon Moore will start at left tackle if the All-Pro isn’t ready by Monday.

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49ers No. 1 pick added to injured list, OL depth signed to roster

More roster moves for the 49ers as Ricky Pearsall lands on NFI list.

The San Francisco 49ers made a couple of roster moves Monday.

Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall was placed on the Non-Football Injury list, and veteran offensive lineman Brandon Parker was added to fill the 53-man roster spot.

Pearsall was shot through the chest during an attempted robbery Saturday in San Francisco. He was discharged from the hospital on Sunday, but his status for a return to football is still unknown. His placement on the NFI means he’ll miss at least four weeks per league injured list rules.

Parker battled with fellow veteran Chris Hubbard during training camp for a reserve offensive tackle spot, but neither made the initial roster. Both were released and on the free agent market. Apparently Parker won that battle because his inclusion on the active roster means he’s by default the team’s swing tackle as long as Trent Williams’s holdout continues.

It initially looked like release of OT Sebastian Gutierrez from the practice squad could mean Williams’s return could be imminent. Parker’s return to the active roster casts doubt on that outcome for the season opener on Sept. 9 vs. the New York Jets.

 

Atypical Week 1 schedule could work in 49ers favor

The 49ers’ first week of the season will be a little weird because of Monday Night Football, but that might actually be a good thing.

The San Francisco 49ers open their season on Monday Night Football against the New York Jets to cap Week 1.

While a Monday night opener at Levi’s Stadium on national TV is a fun way to kickoff the regular season, it throws the team’s normal week of preparation off by a day.

Most teams are getting a bonus practice Monday before resuming their normal week of practices Wednesday, taking Saturday off, then playing Sunday.

For the 49ers, they’ll be a day behind.

San Francisco has a bonus practice Tuesday, they’ll take Wednesday off, and then their normal week of practice starts Thursday. They’ll get Thursday, Friday and Saturday practices in before a day off Sunday.

It’s not a normal week to begin the season, but it might ultimately benefit the 49ers.

They’ll get one extra day to get players healthy. Defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos, running back Christian McCaffrey and wide receiver Jauan Jennings are all dealing with injuries leading up to the opener.

It also gives the 49ers an extra day to try and resolve left tackle Trent Williams’s holdout. Williams has yet to report to the team facility as he negotiates a new contract with San Francisco.

Tuesday’s practice won’t include an official participation report. That will begin Thursday and we’ll start getting a better picture of where the 49ers will be health-wise going into their Monday night opener.

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49ers practice squad moves may hint at good news for star offensive tackle

The 49ers made practice squad moves that come with some added intrigue given their high-profile holdout.

The San Francisco 49ers on Monday did some shuffling on their practice squad.

According to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco, the 49ers officially signed defensive end Sam Okuayinonu to their practice squad. In a corresponding move they released offensive tackle Sebastian Gutierrez.

The potential Okuayinonu addition was first reported by the Athletic’s Matt Barrows shortly after San Francisco released Okuayinonu from their initial 53-man roster. It’s not a huge surprise they wanted him back given their lack of depth at defensive end – a position of major importance on that side of the ball.

He joins Alex Barrett and Jonathan Garvin as internal depth options at the DE spot. San Francisco may rely on someone from that group in Week 1 if Yetur Gross-Matos’s knee injury pushes him out of action.

While the DE position is important, Gutierrez’s release is perhaps the more notable of the two moves because it may signal confidence that Trent Williams’s holdout will end before the season opener.

The 49ers have Jaylon Moore and Colton McKivitz on their 53-man roster, but no additional offensive tackle depth. Internally they had Gutierrez and Isaac Alarcon on the practice squad, but now Alarcon is the only offensive tackle depth they have and he’s an international pathway player who has yet to make his NFL debut.

It’s hard to imagine the 49ers will want to go into a season opener with no depth at OT. Perhaps they envision elevating Alarcon from the practice squad. International pathway players can be elevated up to three times per season. However, given where we are on the calendar and the team’s ongoing negotiations with Williams, the Gutierrez release could signal that the 49ers are getting their star OT back and bolstering their depth as a result.

San Francisco has a bonus practice on Tuesday before getting to work with their normal practice schedule Thursday.

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How many former Sooners made ESPN’s Top 100 NFL Players list?

How many Oklahoma Sooners were made it on ESPN’s Top 100 players in the NFL?

The Oklahoma Sooners are one of the best programs in college football when it comes to putting players in the NFL. The best of the best at OU not only get to the next level but also shine when they get to the pros.

With football season inching closer, ESPN Rank unveiled their list predicting top 100 players for the 2024 season. A total of six former Sooners made the list, spanning multiple positions.

72. Lane Johnson, T, Philadelphia Eagles

Lane Johnson spent four seasons at Oklahoma, starting on the offensive line in both 2011 and 2012. He was the fourth overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, spending his entire career in Philadelphia.

Signature stat: Johnson and his former teammate Jason Kelce are the only two offensive linemen over the past 10 seasons to both win a Super Bowl and have at least five Pro Bowl nominations.  – Tim McManus, ESPN

70. Creed Humphrey, C, Kansas City Chiefs

Kansas City Chiefs center [autotag]Creed Humphrey[/autotag] checks in two spots above Johnson at No. 70. Humphrey was a Sooner for four seasons, and was a three-year starter from 2018-2020. He was the 63rd pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and has won two Super Bowls as a Chief. He signed a massive contract extension last week to stay in Kansas City.

There’s no reason to expect any kind of drop-off this season from Humphrey, who led all centers last season in pass block win rate at 98.8%… Signature stat: Humphrey did not allow a sack on Mahomes in the Chiefs’ first two playoff games in 2023 against the Dolphins and the Bills. – Adam Teicher, ESPN

64. Mark Andrews, TE, Baltimore Ravens

Next up at No. 64 is Baltimore Ravens tight end [autotag]Mark Andrews[/autotag]. He is another four-year Sooner who started for three seasons from 2015-2017. Andrews was the 86th pick in the 2018 NFL Draft and quickly became one of the NFL’s best tight ends. Though he has battled through injuries, he’s one of the biggest matchup nightmares in the league when he’s healthy.

Since (Lamar) Jackson’s first full season as a starting QB in 2019, Andrews ranks fourth in the NFL with 31 red zone touchdowns. Signature stat: In the past five seasons, Andrews has 347 receptions and 37 touchdown catches. Both are the second most of any tight end after Travis Kelce.” — Jamison Hensley, ESPN

32. Jalen Hurts, QB, Philadelphia Eagles

Jumping all the way to No. 32 on ESPN’s rankings, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback [autotag]Jalen Hurts[/autotag] is the next Oklahoma representative. Hurts spent just one season in Norman (2019) but was excellent in leading the Sooners to another conference title and a playoff berth. After being the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy, he was chosen 53rd in the 2020 NFL Draft. Hurts has become a star in Philly, leading the Eagles to Super Bowl LVII after the 2022 season.

Given his abilities and the strong supporting cast around him, (Jalen) Hurts could return to his 2022 form, where he went 14-1 as the starter and finished second in MVP voting. Signature stat: Hurts had 15 rushing TDs last season, tied with Josh Allen (also last season) for most by a quarterback in a single season in NFL history. Hurts’ 28 rushing touchdowns over the past two seasons lead all players. – Tim McManus, ESPN

14. Trent Williams, T, San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle [autotag]Trent Williams[/autotag] lands at No. 14 on the list. The fourth overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft spent four years in Norman, becoming a starter during his true freshman season and never looking back. He was particularly impressive in 2008 and 2009, helping anchor the offensive line during his final two seasons as a Sooner.

At 36, Williams is closer to the end than the beginning, but he’s showing no signs of slowing down. Williams did miss two games with injury in 2023 and has yet to play a full season since he arrived in San Francisco in 2020. He remains dominant but could continue to cement his Hall of Fame status with a full season in which he once again ranks near the top of the league in pass block win rate. Signature stat: Williams’ 95.8% PBWR last season was the best among offensive tackles (ESPN Analytics/NFL Next Gen Stats). – Nick Wagoner, ESPN

11. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys

Finally, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver [autotag]CeeDee Lamb[/autotag] is the highest-ranked Sooner on the list. Lamb was a starter all three years he was at Oklahoma, and a member of three straight playoff teams in Norman. In his final season, he was named a first-team All-American, after catching 62 passes for 1,327 yards and 14 touchdowns. He was chosen as the 17th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Lamb is coming off a year in which he led the NFL with 135 receptions, but how will a training camp holdout impact him, at least at the start of the season? Lamb’s strength is working all three receiver spots, making it difficult for defenses to get a read on where he will be — he can even line up in the backfield. Lamb has certainly proved worthy of the No. 88 worn by Drew Pearson, Michael Irvin and Dez Bryant. Signature stat: Lamb’s 395 receptions is the third most by a player in his first four seasons in NFL history. – Todd Archer, ESPN

Lamb’s holdout is over after he agreed to a historic contract extension with the Dallas Cowboys. The deal is the second-highest non-quarterback in NFL history.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @AaronGelvin.

49ers’ initial 53-man roster may not include major offensive piece

Don’t be shocked if there’s a superstar missing from the 49ers’ initial 53-man roster.

The San Francisco 49ers have until 1:00pm Pacific Time on Tuesday to trim their roster from 90 players down to 53.

There’s a strong chance one major piece of their offense isn’t included in that initial 53-man roster.

As of Monday evening, left tackle Trent Williams had yet to report to the team facility in Santa Clara. His holdout over a new contract lasted throughout training camp, and his failure to report landed him on the reserve/did not report list. Because he’s on a reserve list he’s not on the 90-man roster, and therefore wouldn’t be part of the team’s cuts.

If Williams and the 49ers don’t agree to a contract by the 1:00pm deadline Tuesday, he’d remain on the reserve/did not report list and the team would have a 53-man roster without Williams on it.

While it is jarring to consider the 49ers without Williams shielding quarterback Brock Purdy’s blind side, there’s still a chance their roster will include the four-time All-Pro by Week 1.

Since he’s not on any injured list, there won’t be a requisite number of weeks for Williams to miss before he can return. As soon as he’s happy with his contract situation he can report and suit up for the 49ers. Whether he’ll have enough time to ramp up and play Week 1 remains to be seen, but he’d be eligible to play.

The 49ers are surely hoping to come to a resolution with their superstar left tackle sooner rather than later. It appears Jaylon Moore is in line to start at left tackle if Williams isn’t available for the opener. While Moore is an okay swing tackle, he’s a steep drop off from what Williams provides.

San Francisco opens its regular season on Monday, Sept. 9 against the New York Jets at Levi’s Stadium.

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What if Brandon Aiyuk, Trent Williams miss games due to contract issues?

So … what if Brandon Aiyuk and Trent Williams miss games?

The San Francisco 49ers have a problem brewing with two weeks to go until their regular season opener.

Their contract negotiations with left tackle Trent Williams and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk have now continued all the way through the conclusion of training camp and the preseason. For the first time since Williams’ holdout and Aiyuk’s hold-in, the reality of potentially missing one or both for the regular season opener has started to settle in.

So what happens if one or both players are not in uniform for the 49ers’ Week 1 showdown with the New York Jets on Monday Night Football?

From a football perspective there’s disaster potential. Williams was injured early in Week 6 last year, then missed Weeks 7 and 8. The 49ers lost all three of those games and averaged only 17 points while their run game sputtered.

It would be easier to replace Aiyuk for a week or two, but their passing attack looks much less dynamic without him lining up across from Deebo Samuel.

Contractually, both players would stand to lose significant money by missing regular season contests. Williams has already accrued fines of $50,000 per day for missing training camp. Those fines can’t be waived. Aiyuk avoided his $40,000 daily fines by reporting to camp.

Once players start missing regular season games is when the fines really start stacking up. At that point they start missing out on game checks, which amount to 1/18th of their base salary. For Williams that would mean missing out on more than $1 million per game thanks to a $20,050,000 base salary. Aiyuk would be missing out on a little less than $1 million per game with a $14,124,000 base salary.

Those fines and missed game checks may be enough to push Aiyuk and Williams back onto the field. However, they could dig in for even longer if they’re okay with the financial hits.

Players must be on the 53-man roster (or on IR) for a minimum of six games to accrue a full season. For Aiyuk this matters a lot. He could conceivably continue holding in until Week 13, which would allow him to accrue a full season to hit free agency next year. If he doesn’t accrue a full season he enters next offseason in the same place he’s in now.

Full season accrual matters less for Williams, who is under contract through the 2026 season and currently seeking a new deal that would put guaranteed money on his deal.

The good news for the 49ers is things don’t appear to be trending toward players missing regular-season games. Head coach Kyle Shanahan has been in contact with Williams, and Aiyuk traveled with the team to their preseason finale in Las Vegas. It may not be easy hammering out their contract negotiations, but things seem amicable enough that the two sides will figure something out by the time Week 1 rolls around.

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Kyle Shanahan says he’s had some contact with star offensive lineman during holdout

The star offensive lineman has been holding out from practice at training camp with the 49ers.

While a bulk of the attention surrounds Brandon Aiyuk’s contract saga with the San Francisco 49ers, another star member of the offense has been absent from training camp due to a contract situation. All-Pro offensive tackle Trent Williams has been holding out from camp as he seeks a new deal with the 49ers.

On Wednesday, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan revealed a small update on the situation with Williams. In an appearance on San Francisco’s KNBR with Tom Tolbert and Adam Copeland, Shanahan said he’s had some contact with Williams. He said there’s “nothing new to add, but hopefully it’s getting close.”

Via @KNBR on Twitter:

Williams still has three years remaining on his current deal with the 49ers and is set to make $20.05 million this season, $22.5 million in 2025, and $32.1 million in 2026. However, none of the money left on his current contract is guaranteed.

Williams is coming off three consecutive All-Pro seasons along with four straight Pro Bowl nods. Williams started 15 games last season, earning an 89.9 overall grade from Pro Football Focus.

With only the preseason finale left and the start of the regular season looming, Williams’ status should be a top priority for the 49ers. The 36-year-old blocker is one of the best offensive linemen in the NFL and a key to what the 49ers do on offense in the pass-and-run game. Williams provides leadership and stability to a relatively unproven group up front that’s tasked with protecting Brock Purdy.

Without Williams, the 49ers’ tackle responsibilities fall on Jaylon Moore and Colton McKivitz on the outside of the offensive line. Moore and McKivitz will likely get reps with the rest of the starters that are available in the 49ers preseason finale on Friday against the Las Vegas Raiders.

The 49ers will close out the preseason in Las Vegas on Friday with kickoff set for 7 p.m. PT.

This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

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Can Trey Lance trade inform when Brandon Aiyuk, Trent Williams contract talks end?

The Trey Lance trade provides a good blueprint for when the Brandon Aiyuk and Trent Williams contract situations can be resolved.

The San Francisco 49ers are familiar with looming unsettled offseason moves this late in the preseason.

Last year as the final preseason game approached, the 49ers had defensive end Nick Bosa’s contract still unfinished and a mess to clean up in their quarterback room as the battle for the backup job waged between Trey Lance and Sam Darnold.

This year it’s wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk’s hold-in and left tackle Trent Williams’ holdout that still need to be resolved.

Bosa’s holdout went beyond the preseason. He didn’t return to the field until practice began the Wednesday before Week 1 of the regular season. Perhaps that’ll be the case for one of either Williams or Aiyuk.

However, the 49ers may not want to let anything linger that long again. They don’t have the wiggle room to have two of their top offensive players behind the curve when they take the field Week 1 against the New York Jets. It’s hard to imagine both Aiyuk and Williams playing at a high level with only three days of practice under their belts.

Instead, we’ll look at the Lance situation which ended with the QB getting traded to the Dallas Cowboys on August 25 — the same day of their preseason finale against the Los Angeles Chargers. Getting that in before final cuts helped the 49ers’ decision-making when it came to whittling down their roster. There’s no such choice with Aiyuk and Williams, but their presence would change the calculus on how the rest of their position groups get filled out.

This year the 49ers wrap up their preseason slate against the Las Vegas Raiders on Friday, Aug. 23. That may be, and perhaps should be, when the Aiyuk and Williams situations ultimately get resolved.

A nice Friday news dump just ahead of their preseason finale would help offset some of the bad vibes lingering by the prolonged contract talks of the two All-Pros. That would also give Aiyuk and Williams nearly two weeks to ramp up with bonus practices in the week before the regular season, and then a full week of regular-season practices before getting suited up for the opener on Sept. 9.

That still may not be enough time to get both players playing at the highest level after missing all of the offseason program and training camp, but it should give them enough of a foundation to at least be serviceable when the regular-season begins.

Training camp was the original soft deadline and nothing happened then. Now we’re going to circle the final preseason game as another soft deadline since final cuts take place a few days later on Aug. 27. If there’s no resolution by then, things really step into the realm of outcomes where the Williams and Aiyuk contract talks could have a real impact on the regular season.

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