Wiliams missed the final seven games of 2024 with ankle and heel injuries. While he didn’t mention retirement last year, it’s a reasonable speculation for a 36-year-old tackle who has already locked up his spot in the Hall of Fame. He also held out for much of the offseason program last year in search of more guaranteed money. The 49ers eventually obliged, though Williams could soon be eying a new deal entirely. He has two years left on his current contract. Luckily for San Francisco, that doesn’t appear to be an issue at the moment and Williams will be back protecting Brock Purdy’s blindside next season.

The 49ers are desperately looking at practice squads and free agents after losing two more linemen last week and finding out that Williams isn’t coming back this year. Williams finished with a 49ers-low 85.6 PFF blocking grade in 649 snaps this season. He’s due a $21.9 million cap figure in 2025 and figures to be the 49ers starting left tackle assuming that the heel and ankle injuries don’t require any serious offeseason surgeries. Week 17 could be another week under pressure for Brock Purdy and the gang as they try to deal with Detroit.

Williams is inching toward being done for the year as the 49ers’ playoff odds approach zero and his ankle issue fails to get much better. Guerendo was ruled out earlier in the week, meaning Patrick Taylor will draw the start at running back.

Shanny didn’t say Williams is done for the year, but it’s not hard to connect the dots even if Williams could, in theory, return this year. He has been out for a month with the ankle injury and didn’t practice today, pointing toward another absence. With the 49ers soon to be officially eliminated from the playoff race, Williams may have played his last snap in 2024.