San Francisco 49ers defensive end Mykel Williams is expected to be activated from active/PUP and make his season debut on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks, according to 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan. Williams has not played since tearing his ACL on Nov. 25, 2025, and his return comes roughly 10 ½ months after the surgery that followed, per the New York Post.
Williams practiced on a limited basis Wednesday before sitting out Thursday. Shanahan said Williams has strung together strong practice weeks in his early rehab. “It’s been his second week back, so he had a good week last week, even better this week. So, should be good to go for Sunday,” Shanahan said, according to Yahoo Sports.
Mykel Williams: Season Debut Set For Sunday
Williams is expected to come off active/PUP in time for the Seahawks game, a designation that reflects his recovery timeline rather than a game-day decision. Shanahan’s comments indicate the 49ers view the defensive end as ready to play after back-to-back productive practice weeks. The 49ers have not officially confirmed Williams’ activation, though Shanahan’s comments suggest he is on track to play.
Williams has expressed eagerness to play after missing nearly a year. “I’m going crazy. I’m losing my mind.
I’m ready to go. I miss playing ball. It’s been like damn near a year,” he said, per the New York Post.
“Knowing how banged-up we are, it’s just been killing me watching it transpire how it has been. I’m ready to get back on the field.”
Who Williams Joins On The Defensive Line
Six of the 10 defensive linemen on San Francisco’s initial 53-man roster suffered injuries in the season’s first two weeks. Rookie edge rusher Romello Height has since returned to action, and Williams is expected to join him in the rotation. 49ers general manager John Lynch pointed to the pairing as relief for a unit that has been shorthanded. “We’ve had to patch it together. Now we’re getting Mykel back,” Lynch said.
Williams played alongside Nick Bosa for just three games last season before the ACL injury, a stretch that accounted for 25% of the 49ers’ total sacks on the year. That small sample is one reason the team has pushed to get him back on the field as soon as his recovery allowed.
Williams’ Season Context And Background
Williams, a 2025 first-round pick from Georgia, recorded one sack and four pressures in nine games before the ACL tear sidelined him. In three seasons at Georgia, Williams totaled 14 sacks and 21 ½ tackles for loss.
Williams said his rookie production did not reflect his ability. “I wasn’t happy with what I did out there, for real. I know the type of player I am, and I don’t think I represented myself well on tape last year,” he said. He has emphasized technique development during his rehab: “From the get off, to pad level, to hand usage, just developing and feeling comfortable in the defense.”
What’s Next For The 49ers
San Francisco hosts Seattle on Sunday, the Seahawks’ first regular-season matchup with the 49ers this season. Williams’ return comes as the team tries to stabilize a defensive front depleted by injuries.
Don't stop here
Every Score. Every Story. One Home.
Breaking sports, entertainment and news from across the Total Apex network, updated all day.
Get the Full Story →
