ESPN insider Adam Schefter, appearing on "The Pat McAfee Show," shared the latest insights on the contract standoff between the San Francisco 49ers and All-Pro offensive lineman Trent Williams. Williams has been holding out since the start of training camp, seeking a restructured contract, likely with more guaranteed money, and possibly aiming to reclaim his spot among the NFL's highest-paid offensive linemen.
Despite the holdout, the 49ers have remained optimistic that a deal would eventually be reached, noting that Williams is one player who doesn't necessarily need the practice reps during training camp. However, Schefter believes there is growing concern surrounding how long the negotiations are taking.
"I think there is some concern," Schefter stated. "I think their offensive line didn't play particularly well the other night, and I don't think that they've made a lot of progress so far. I don't think that Trent Williams is closer to coming in today. I also think that we're entering a week now where the 49ers play two weeks from tonight against [QB] Aaron Rodgers and the Jets. Two weeks from tonight, which is amazing to think about. And I just think that this is the week where I'm expecting every one of these situations to have some type of ramped-up activity.
"Now, I don't know that all of them will get solved. I'd love to see every one of them get solved and kind of have everybody move ahead to the season. But how would the 49ers not make renewed efforts this week to try to figure out and resolve the [WR] Brandon Aiyuk and Trent Williams situations?"
"I don't think the 49ers and Trent Williams have made a lot of progress so far..
This is the week where I'm expecting every one of these situations to have some type of ramped up activity" ~ @AdamSchefter #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/dS2qKt5cmV
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) August 26, 2024
Schefter emphasized that teams dealing with contract disputes are at a critical juncture, with the roster cut-down deadline looming on Tuesday and the regular season fast approaching.
Schefter's ESPN colleague, Jeremy Fowler, recently commented that Williams' Week 1 availability is in doubt.
"I was told from somebody involved in the situation that he is not going to be available until he gets his contract adjusted," Fowler said on SportsCenter. "He's got three years left on his deal. That could bleed into the regular season with us just being a few weeks away.
"This is a player who's made about $150 million in his career. He's been taking up golf, kind of stayed away from the team, doing his own thing. Still training, of course, getting ready for the season, potentially, but he's not overly stressed to have to be out there right now."