Though there was a belief that San Francisco 49ers tackle Trent Williams could return this season after suffering an ankle injury that's had him sidelined since Week 11, those beliefs got shot down on Monday. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan announced to the media that Williams' 2024 season is officially over, per NFL Network's Clayton Holloway on X.
“Kyle Shanahan speaking on a conference call with media confirms LT Trent Williams (ankle) will be out for the final two games of the regular season,” Holloway wrote.
After losing continuous players on this roster, the 49ers now rival the Detroit Lions for the most injury-ridden season in 2024. The Lions still hold that crown, but the 49ers aren't far behind.
And with Williams' designation from the 49ers' head coach on Monday, they add another crucial injury to their disastrous season.
49ers LT Trent Williams could retire early following injury update
After 14 years between the 49ers and now Washington Commanders, Williams' NFL career could be over.
Williams and the 49ers were amidst a standstill this offseason, as the future Hall of Fame offensive tackle was looking for a new contract with the team.
Nearly a week before their Week 1 matchup against the New York Jets, Williams and the 49ers agreed to a three-year restructured contract extension worth $82.66 million, inking him to the team until 2026 with void years in 2027, 2028, and 2029.
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Now, Williams could still return to the 49ers next season and finish out his restructured contract. But, if this injury requires major rehab, the 14-year vet could hang up his cleats early.
Williams is coming off three consecutive seasons of being named a First-team All-Pro, showing he's still capable of playing at an extremely high level, even after nearly a decade in the league.
However, with his current ankle injury and the 49ers' unfortunate outlook moving forward, 2024 could've been Williams' last season in the NFL.
