The San Francisco 49ers’ All-Pro veteran left tackle Trent Williams encountered several difficulties in their most recent game against the Minnesota Vikings, which ended in a 23-17 loss. Pro Football Focus statistics show that Williams gave up four pressures—two hurries, one hit, and finally one sack. Given Williams’ aspirations to remain among the NFL’s best offensive lineman and the increased expectations that followed his offseason contract discussions, this performance is especially notable.
Williams’s performance makes one wonder about the effects of aging and how it affects one’s ability to remain an elite athlete. He’s 36 years old and playing in a sport that is becoming more and more youth-oriented. He had previously waited out the summer due to concerns about his salary, but it appears that those negotiations are still having an impact on his current play.
In response to inquiries from SI on Williams’ difficulties, head coach Kyle Shanahan said, “I didn’t see him become tired or fatigued… Yesterday’s game was all that was discussed.” This suggests that there could be additional elements at work, such as the strategic difficulties presented by the Vikings’ defense, even though Williams might not be experiencing the usual physical wear and tear associated with a demanding game.
Williams gave up four pressures, recorded two hurries, one hit, and one sack, as was mentioned in his performance. Although Shanahan called his play “decent,” he did mention a few things he would have liked to see changed. He dismissed the notion that the lineman’s performance was impacted by the absence of training camp in spite of these grievances. Williams held out because he was unhappy that he wasn’t the highest-paid offensive lineman in the NFL, highlighting the conflict between his wealth and his on-field accomplishments.
