Trent Williams Injury Update
On Sunday night, December 28, 2025, the San Francisco 49ers lost All‑Pro left tackle Trent Williams to a right hamstring injury on the very first offensive snap of their home matchup against the Chicago Bears at Levi’s Stadium, a game they were already chasing after an early pick‑six.
Trent Williams is dealing with a right hamstring injury suffered while trying to chase down Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards on that opening interception return for a touchdown. He pulled up during the runback, immediately grabbed for the back of his right leg, and headed straight to the blue medical tent on the sideline.
Initially, the 49ers listed him as questionable, but by halftime, he was ruled out for the rest of the game, with Austen Pleasants taking over at left tackle and playing the remainder of the snaps on Brock Purdy’s blind side. On the sideline, Williams took off his gloves and tape not long after leaving the field, a small but telling sign that he wasn’t expecting to return. Sleeper49ers (@SleeperSF49ers) reported on X that Trent Williams is dealing with a hamstring injury and is questionable to return.
TheSFNiners (@TheSFNiners) reported on X that Trent Williams has been ruled out for the 49ers due to a hamstring injury.
There’s no official timeline yet from the team, and it’s unclear if the 49ers view this as a week‑to‑week hamstring issue or something that could bleed into the postseason picture. Given his age, his workload, and how much their offense leans on him in both pass pro and the run game, any missed time this late in the year is going to make Kyle Shanahan rethink protections and some of the outside‑zone calls.
What Happened to Trent Williams?
Williams was hurt on the first offensive play from scrimmage, a pass where Purdy tried to hit Jauan Jennings to the right and Chicago’s Jaylon Johnson jumped the route, tipping the ball into the air for Edwards to snag and return 34 yards to the house. Williams wasn’t involved in the initial contact, but he sprinted downfield to try and prevent the score, then suddenly slowed, reached for his right hamstring, and limped out of the play. Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) reported on X that Trent Williams, the 49ers’ Pro Bowl left tackle, has been ruled out for the remainder of the game due to a hamstring injury.
Some 49ers fans will remember last season’s late‑year ankle issue that cost him the final seven games of 2024 and forced the line into emergency mode down the stretch. This time, he’d managed to get through the entire 2025 schedule without missing a game until Sunday night, fresh off being named to his 12th Pro Bowl, the most ever for an offensive tackle.
Social reaction was immediate and blunt phrases like “devastating” and “irreplaceable” popped up in real time as fans processed the idea of another playoff push without their best lineman fully healthy. It’s a little concerning for San Francisco that this happened on what should’ve been a routine chase‑down, not a pile‑up or cut block.
Trent Williams Stats and Impact
Even though offensive line numbers don’t show up like a quarterback’s box score, Williams has been grading out as one of the top tackles in football again this season, including a 90.0 pass‑blocking grade and the highest overall offensive score on the 49ers roster in their Week 2 win over the Saints. Across 45 pass‑blocking snaps in that game, he didn’t allow the kind of edge pressure that’s been an issue whenever he’s off the field, which is exactly why the drop‑off to a backup like Pleasants is so stark.
Penalty‑wise, he’s been pretty clean in 2025, tagged with just two penalties for 25 yards, well below some of his earlier Washington seasons and even lower than a few recent San Francisco campaigns. That fits what shows up on tape: a veteran who picks his spots physically, doesn’t panic with his hands, and still moves better than most tackles several years younger.
From a rotation standpoint, if Williams misses time, the 49ers are likely to keep Pleasants at left tackle and slide help his way with tight ends like George Kittle or chip‑blocks from Christian McCaffrey, which can subtly change how Shanahan calls third‑and‑long. There’s no official designation yet for next week’s injury report, but given he was ruled out quickly and hamstrings can linger, it wouldn’t be surprising if he’s at least listed as Doubtful or Out for the next game.
Disclaimer:
This injury update is based on publicly available game reports and team announcements as of the latest 49ers vs Bears matchup, and may change with new information. It’s not official medical advice; for the most accurate status, always check the team’s latest report and trusted news sources.
