Williams aims to play as elbow is improving
After he returned to practice Thursday for the first time since he suffered a sprained elbow Jan. 2, left tackle Trent Williams revealed he didn’t emerge unscathed from a game in which he didn’t play.
Williams was forced to be a cheerleader during last Sunday’s 27-24, playoff-clinching overtime win over the Rams. And four days later, he still had the hoarse voice to prove he took his role as sideline spectator seriously.
“You see,” he said, “I lost my voice.”
It actually wasn’t hard to hear Williams. And what he said was welcome news for 49ers fans before a wild-card playoff game Sunday at Dallas: Williams, 33, fully intends to play after having “a lot of improvement” in his right elbow.
“We knew that one week rest was probably not enough,” Williams said. “I just prayed that we could get a second week in and were able to.”
Tight end George Kittle indicated the nine-time Pro Bowl selection wouldn’t be at full strength, but his return would still provide a massive boost.
“Trent, I think, a little bit hurt is still better than almost anyone in the NFL, regardless of position,” Kittle said. “So having him back has a huge impact for us and it will allow us to do a lot more things in the run and pass game.”
Williams tried to play against the Rams because of the high stakes, but finally acknowledged hours before kickoff that his right arm would be almost non-functional. He was replaced by a Colton McKivitz, a 2020 fifthround pick who hadn’t played a snap in the season’s first 16 games.
“I didn’t think me with one good hand was better than Colton with two,” Williams said. “So I had to make a decision that went against my pride to succumb to the injury and give it time to heal.”
Williams revealed he was injured on the sixth play in a 23-7 win over the Texans. He played 59 of 62 snaps, leaving for the final drive with the game in hand.
“I just gritted through it,” Williams said. “And paid the price later.”
McDaniel and Miami: Offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel was asked if he was “juggling” duties after the Dolphins requested permission to interview him for their headcoaching vacancy Tuesday.
McDaniel, 38, indicated he had not scheduled a time to interview with Miami.
“There is no juggling,” McDaniel said. “It’s about the Dallas Cowboys and the 49ers offense going down there and performing.”
The Dolphins also requested permission to interview McDaniel last year when they had an offensive-coordinator opening.
Injury report: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (thumb) was a full participant in practice for the first time since he was injured Dec. 23. … Seven players were limited: Williams, linebackers Azeez Al-Shaair
(knee) and Marcell Harris
(Achilles), safeties Jaquiski Tartt (groin) and Talanoa Hufanga (knee), running back Elijah Mitchell (knee), and punter Mitch Wishnowsky
(concussion).