‘Questionable’ Williams starts against Rams
INGLEWOOD, Los Angeles County — Score one early victory for the 49ers.
All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams, who missed practice last week with a high ankle sprain, was in the starting lineup for Sunday’s NFC Championship Game against the Rams.
Williams, a nine-time Pro Bowl selection who protects quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo’s blind side, helps the 49ers not only in pass protection but also in helping fuel their running game.
The seven players on the 49ers’ roster who did not suit up for Sunday’s title game at SoFi Stadium were wide receiver Mohamed Sanu, quarterback Nate Sudfeld, running back Jeff Wilson Jr., linebacker Marcel Harris, defensive back Deommodore Lenoir, guard Aaron Banks and defensive lineman Maurice Hurst.
Williams, 33, was listed as questionable on Friday’s injury report. He also made it clear, at least to head coach Kyle Shanahan, that he intended to play in Sunday’s game.
“Trent is adamant that he’s going,” Shanahan said Friday. “I believe Trent when he says he’s going to do everything he can to play. So I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t, but I was surprised last time (he missed the Rams game). I was also surprised he was able to finish the game versus Green Bay.”
Williams played against the Packers in the 13-10 divisionalround victory Jan. 22, despite the injury. He left the locker room on crutches after that game.
Three weeks ago, Williams didn’t practice ahead of San Francisco’s regular-season finale Jan. 9 at SoFi Stadium, because of a sprained elbow. The 49ers also listed him as questionable then, and Shanahan held out hope Williams could play.
But the elbow proved too much to overcome, and Williams was inactive and watched his team advance to the playoffs with a 27-24 overtime win over the Rams. Colton McKivitz, a 2020 fifthround choice from West Virginia, replaced Williams in the lineup.