SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers haven't made substantial investments in the offensive line, believing coach Kyle Shanahan's scheme and a deep group of playmakers can make up for any deficiencies.
That theory is being put to the test early in training camp when the one linemen that the 49ers have paid big money to is holding out, with three-time All-Pro Trent Williams seeking an improved contract.
Williams' holdout extended to a fourth day on Friday and offensive line coach Chris Foerster said it's important to get Williams into camp “as soon as possible.”
“These reps are all important,” Foerster said. “My thing with him for years has been, yes as a 14-year vet, any player I’ve had that gets up in years, they still need work. Everybody does. Every position. Great basketball players still go out and shoot free throws. They still practice, you still have to practice.”
Williams has been the best left tackle in the NFL since joining the Niners in 2020. He has been a first-team All-Pro the past three seasons, and the 36-year-old has made 11 Pro Bowls. Williams is by far the best player on an offensive line that lacks any other top performers, making his absence a major concern.
General manager John Lynch has been speaking this offseason with Williams’ representatives about a new deal to replace the final three non-guaranteed years of a six-year, $138.1 million contract signed in 2021.
Williams is owed a base salary of about $20.1 million this season with an additional $750,000 in per-game roster bonuses. Williams is subject to a mandatory fine of $50,000 for each day of training camp he misses.
The Niners got a look at several backup linemen in practice on Friday with Williams still holding out, and center Jake Brendel and guards Spencer Burford and Jon Feliciano held out of practice.
The 49ers made no major upgrades to the offensive line outside of drafting guard Dominick Puni in the third round in April despite poor play from that unit contributing heavily to the Super Bowl loss to Kansas City.
San Francisco averaged 3.5 yards per carry in the game and had notable pass blocking mistakes in the 25-22 overtime loss. The Niners failed to pick up a third-down blitz late in regulation that allowed the Chiefs enough time to drive for a game-tying score and then had a blown assignment by right guard Spencer Burford in the red zone in overtime that led to a field goal instead of a TD.
Burford has taken responsibility for the mistake that allowed All-Pro Chris Jones a clear path to Brock Purdy to force an interception, but Foerster says he takes ultimate blame.
“It weighs on you,” Foerster said. “Every single thing that I did the night before the game of the Super Bowl to talk to my players, to prepare them that week, to get them ready to go, on the sideline. We pick this game to not play our best game, but it happens. It’s a game. You go out and you go play it. And we didn’t play very well. And he makes that mistake. I struggle with it. It’s my fault. I prepare him to play. It’s my job to get him to do it. ... I’m responsible for those knuckleheads and if those knuckleheads don’t do it right? I’m the knucklehead, I’m the guy that’s not doing the job right. I’m the guy that has to get them to do it, but I can promise you as much as it weighs on me, it weighs on him more because he’s the one with the bright light on him. Nobody took the camera over to me and said, ‘There’s the idiot that didn’t get him prepared properly.’”
NOTES: WR Brandon Aiyuk continues his “hold in,” missing his third straight practice as he looks for a long-term contract extension. ... Several key players were held out of practice with DE Nick Bosa, RB Christian McCaffrey, TE George Kittle, CB Charvarius Ward and DT Maliek Collins getting a rest day. ... WR Deebo Samuel said he hopes to get more opportunities this season as a kick returner with the new rules in place. Samuel has nine returns in five regular seasons and seven more in the playoffs, including a 45-yarder in a playoff win over Green Bay in the 2021 season. Samuel scored four TDs on 42 returns in college.
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