Williams dings wonky right knee
Loss of standout offensive tackle could be devastating
SANTA CLARA » Left tackle Trent Williams is one of the 49ers’ most valuable players, so it wasn’t a comforting sight to see him limp off the practice field Monday grabbing at his right knee.
“I didn’t see it. They just said he clipped a knee or hip or something, and we got him out,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “They didn’t seem overly concerned but we’ve got to look at him inside.”
If further inspection intensifies that concern, the 49ers could be in seri
ous trouble. That goes for whether Jimmy Garoppolo or Trey Lance is at quarterback, and whoever is running the ball to Williams’ side.
The 49ers’ regular-season opener is Sept. 12 at Detroit.
Williams had surgery in December 2017 on his right knee, after which he said doctors “readjusted my tibia bone” and performed microfracture surgery to regenerate growth.
He grimaced while checking the stabilization of that knee after delivering a block Monday on a carry by Raheem Mostert. The 49ers called five more snaps before prematurely ending practice.
Williams didn’t need to be carted off but appeared to test the stability of a knee that has given him issues in the past.
He has not missed any training camp practices, but he rested with other would-be starters in Saturday’s preseason-opening loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Williams signed the richest contract ever for an offensive lineman in March, after joining the 49ers a year earlier in a trade from Washington.
The 49ers are low on backup offensive tackles. Jaylon Moore served as the second-string left tackle. Shon Coleman, another option as a swing tackle, injured a knee in Saturday’s game and did not practice Monday.
GUTIERREZ AN OPTION? » Mexican offensive tackle Alfredo Gutierrez is ticketed for the practice squad and not viewed as a serious candidate for the 53-man roster. But Shanahan praised his training camp as a byproduct of the NFL’s international player program.
“He’s ballin’. He’s representing Mexico well,” Shanahan said. “We’ve enjoyed him here. It’s nice. He’s a big guy. He’s doing what we ask him to do. Asking him to do run blocking is new to him. But he looks like he belongs and hopefully he gets playing time, eventually.”
Gutierrez didn’t play in Saturday’s preseason opener. He could debut in Sunday’s against the host Los Angeles Chargers. Other potential offensive tackles are Tom Compton, Corbin Kaufusi and Colton McKivitz, who lined up as the second-string right guard Monday in place of the injured Aaron Banks (shoulder).
GAROPPOLO FINISHES HOT » Jimmy Garoppolo started 2 for 7 and had a pass intercepted by Fred Warner, but then got hot. He completed his final 10 passes, capped with a touchdown throw to Mohamed Sanu, after which the horn sounded to end practice some six minutes early.
Garoppolo was 12 of 17 in full-team drills, an extensive workload because Shanahan wanted more work for starters after most barely played or sat out Sunday night’s preseason opener.
LANCE ALSO PICKED » Trey Lance attempted only seven passes and completed four. He sailed an attempt to tight end Ross Dwelley that recently signed safety Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix intercepted for a potential touchdown. Lance ran twice, but it’s not automatic on zoneread snaps, and he handed off on back-to-back plays.
BOSA PLAN » Defensive end Nick Bosa is scheduled to make his debut in full-team practices next week, meaning he will not participate in this week’s sessions Thursday and Friday against the Los Angeles Chargers, who are led defensively by Nick’s brother, Joey.
“That’s what we’re hoping for. If we stay on track, I think we’ll see him next week,” Shanahan said of Bosa. KINLAW HURT AGAIN » Defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw has a shoulder injury that limited him to individual conditioning Monday. He’s had sporadic practice time this camp because of January knee surgery.
Notes
Wide receiver Jalen Hurd did individual conditioning, which Shanahan said is usually the case when Hurd’s surgically repaired right knee acts up in position drills.
• Defensive linemen Arik Armstead (groin) and Samson Ebukam (knee) participated in position drills. Dee Ford was in on multiple full-team snaps against Mike McGlinchey.
• Cornerback K’Waun Williams (quadriceps) and linebackers Azeez Al-Shaair (knee) and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (concussion) rejoined team drills.
• Cornerback Ken Webster was released, Shanahan confirmed. Also waived were linebackers James Burgess Jr. and Donald Payne and defensive lineman Eddie Vanderdoes.
• Wide receiver Austin Watkins Jr. (foot fracture) is going on injured reserve. That puts the 49ers within one move of the NFL’s roster limit of 85 players by today’s deadline.
• Linebacker Mychal Kendricks officially signed and participated in practice.