The San Francisco 49ers will lean on a committee of defensive linemen to fill the void left by Nick Bosa, who suffered a season-ending ACL injury on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals. This marks Bosa's second season-ending ACL injury since entering the NFL in 2019 and his third ACL injury since high school.
San Francisco revamped its defensive front this offseason. One of the newcomers is first-round draft pick Mykel Williams, a versatile defensive lineman capable of playing inside or outside. San Francisco saw significant untapped potential in him as a pass rusher. With Bosa sidelined for the rest of the season, Williams is expected to see more opportunities to pressure opposing quarterbacks and make impactful plays.
Some wondered whether the pressure to replace Bosa's production might be too much for a rookie. Fred Warner was asked ahead of Wednesday's practice if he had any advice for Williams about handling the increased responsibility.
"I honestly don't think much needs to be said," Warner said. "I think Mykel's made of the exact right stuff. I don't feel that he's even thinking in that way. I think he's just so excited that he's having the opportunity to have as big a role as he's had with us so far. And I think, obviously, that role is only gonna increase.
"He just loves playing the game and already wants to be the best version of himself, and so, if he just continues to keep going, then I know that he'll go where he wants to."
Williams has appeared in all three games this season, playing 130 defensive snaps—69% of the team's total. While he has yet to record his first NFL sack, he has tallied nine pressures, ranking third on the team behind veterans Bryce Huff (11) and Nick Bosa (10).
Notably, six of Williams' nine pressures came during Sunday's win over the Arizona Cardinals. His Pro Football Focus pass-rush grade has steadily climbed from 49.2 in Week 1 to 59.3 in Week 2 and 68.4 in Week 3.
Huff, acquired via trade this offseason, expects San Francisco's younger linemen to step up in Bosa's absence and make key plays down the stretch. That includes Williams. Huff was asked about the rookie on Wednesday.
"Mykel's on point," Huff said. "When he came in, first-rounder, he's playing like a first-rounder. He's been making great plays, had a lot of consistent pressure last week, so I'm looking forward to seeing how he continues to develop."
With his talent and work ethic, Williams has the potential to become a cornerstone of the 49ers' defensive front for years to come.