In case anyone missed it, the San Francisco 49ers starting slot corner K'Waun Williams opted out of the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams because he still wasn't feeling quite right after being on the COVID/Reserve list earlier that week.
NBC Sports Bay Area's Matt Maiocco appeared on KNBR Monday and brought up the fact that Williams was out.
"K'waun Williams was on the COVID list, and he just didn't feel right, and he was cleared off the Covid list, so it wasn't that he was held out of the game because of Covid, but he just didn't feel right. Just the worry of the work that he wasn't able to put in heading into that game. So, he should be back."
In his place the 49ers started veteran cornerback Dontae Johnson in the slot to cover wide receiver Cooper Kupp, who finished 2021 as the NFL leader in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
It was a lot to ask out of Johnson, who many feel is better on the outside than in the slot. Kupp was 7 of 7 for 118 yards, and a touchdown on the day. It seemed from the beginning that Johnson was going to have a long day trying to slow Kupp down.
Kupp even had Johnson's number in run blocking.
sandwiched in between his 3rd down catch and TD in the 4th quarter. Here's Cooper Kupp being used like a de facto Fullback for the Rams.
Can also see Kupp's body control with how he navigates the bodies and gets upfield on the block. pic.twitter.com/0yqR4nPJRC
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) January 10, 2022
It's not a knock-on Johnson. The fact that the 49ers have a veteran backup who can step into all corner positions is highly valuable.
49ers rookie cornerback Deommodore Lenoir was ruled out on Sunday as well after being placed on the COVID list late enough the week that there was not time for him to test out of it. Lenoir likely would've stepped in to replace Williams as the starting slot corner against the Rams.
Many speculate that Lenoir will be heir to the throne to replace Williams this off-season as the starting slot corner, since Williams is scheduled to be a free agent.
Here's a couple clips of K'Waun over the last couple of years.
Trent Taylor vs K'Waun Williams. Look at Williams eyes as he drives the out. Good stuff .. drives the receiver before looking back.. nice work at the LOS.. makes Taylor work laterally pic.twitter.com/FTzkrtDxRt
— Big CROCKY⚡️ (@eric_crocker) July 31, 2019
Interception goals.
K'Waun Williams runs it back to the CLE 49! pic.twitter.com/5cc2fRRoBd
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 8, 2019
Make no mistake, K'waun Williams is one of the best slot corners in the NFL. His return Sunday for the Wildcard Playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys is a huge boost to the 49ers 3rd-ranked defense.