49ers’ plan for rookie D-linemen Mykel Williams, Alfred Collins coming to life

SANTA CLARA — The 49ers went into the 2025 NFL season with an understanding that their young defensive linemen would need to contribute.Coach Kyle Shanahan sees that plan starting to come into focus after just two weeks with rookies Mykel Williams and Alfred Collins on the field.“You know, they did some good things in game one, but we saw even better in game two,” Shanahan said of the pair. “Alfred got out there more, flashed a bunch. I see both of those guys just working the right way, made of the right stuff. Alfred’s been stringing together a lot of stuff; he’s been able to avoid injury. Mykel’s getting back and getting used to it, and I thought it was a big improvement in Week 2.”Williams, who was on the field for 39 snaps in his rookie debut, only registered one tackle against the Seattle Seahawks. Collins was on the field for just nine plays but did not appear on the stat sheet at all.In their second game appearance in the 49ers’ 26-21 win over the New Orleans Saints, Williams was on the field for 48 defensive plays and generated three pressures, all hurries, with four tackles, one assist, one missed tackle and four...