Trent Williams

49ers Getting Close On Trent Williams Extension?

Another day, another update concerning the contract situations in San Francisco. According to Cam Inman of The Mercury News, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan gave updates on the team’s ongoing negotiations today. While one update lacked an abundance of new information, Shanahan seemed to hint that the other could be on its way to a resolution.

Star offensive tackle Trent Williams has been committed to his holdout as the 36-year-old pushes for a new deal that improves upon the figures he’s currently stuck with until 2027. Our most recent update showed that Williams’ camp had been contacted by the team as they attempted to appease his dissatisfaction.

In an interview on KNBR, Shanahan told his interviewers, “I’ve had some contact with (Williams). It’s been good to talk to him. I know we’re negotiating hard. Nothing new to add, but hopefully it’s getting close.”

Williams’ presence on the field is far too impactful for the 49ers to risk not starting the season with him in uniform, especially with star running back Christian McCaffrey coming off an injury. With the team’s lack of experienced depth on the offensive line, especially at tackle, it doesn’t seem likely that they’ll allow Williams to sit out for much longer.

Now, to the other situation: the hold-in of wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. Unfortunately, Shanahan’s update on the Aiyuk-negotiations were far less informative. “Oh, so much has changed,” Shanahan joked to open his most recent explanation of the situation. “No, no new updates. I’m sorry to keep being boring with that, but I wish I was saying something different, but nothing’s changed yet.”

We’ve gotten so many conflicting reports concerning the slow-but-seemingly-sure progress of an extension for the young wide receiver. Whether they’re still far apart or getting close, the situation seems to be improving. The 49ers continue to work to hold on to Aiyuk, while Pittsburgh waits patiently across the table, tapping the offer sheet that the Steelers submitted so long ago.

49ers In Talks With Trent Williams’ Camp

Brandon Aiyuk‘s hold-in, creating a will-they/won’t-they trade dynamic now involving the Steelers, has overshadowed 49ers training camp. But the team has also been without a much more accomplished starter since reporting. Trent Williamsholdout persists.

The 49ers cannot waive fines levied to Williams for missing camp practices, as the holdout left tackle is not tied to a rookie contract. The future Hall of Famer has accumulated more than $1MM in fines during his holdout, but the 49ers are not shutting down the prospect of adjusting his six-year contract.

We’re having a lot of discussions with his agent,” Shanahan said, via 49ersWebZone.com. “Trent’s not here right now, obviously not at camp. I believe he’s in Houston, but I’m not sure. But we’re talking with his agent a lot, and hopefully, we can figure it out. As I’ve said the whole time, I am optimistic we will, but, of course, the sooner, the better.

A recent report indicated the 49ers should be expected to address Williams’ deal in some way. It would surprise if a true extension came to pass, as Williams is 36 and signed through the 2026 season. Significant movement took place on the tackle market this offseason, with Tristan Wirfs and Christian Darrisaw raising the ceiling at left tackle and Penei Sewell coming in with a deal that established a new tier among right tackles. Williams has been the NFL’s first-team All-Pro LT for the past three seasons and is making an effort to secure better terms as a result.

The 49ers moving some of Williams’ future money into 2024 could be an option here, with incentives also potentially in the equation. Williams landed a then-tackle-record $23MM AAV when he signed a six-year, $138.1MM deal in 2021. The former Washington top-five pick, however, took a risk the market would move again by signing for such a lengthy term. Of course, Williams — who once engaged in a memorable stalemate with Washington, leading to the San Francisco trade — may have viewed a future holdout as an option when he signed the six-year contract.

A wide talent gulf exists between Williams and the other four 49ers O-line starters. The team, which has some notable payments to other stars on its roster, has opted to keep costs low everywhere else on its offensive front. The 49ers lost both games (not counting a Week 18 matchup in which the team rested starters) Williams did not finish last season, and the 15th-year veteran certainly seems to recognize his value to the team.

Williams, who is tied to a $20.1MM base salary on a contract that has seen its guarantees paid out, is testing the 49ers’ resolve. Though, given his importance, it should not be expected — at least, not just yet — that the 49ers would dare go into the season without their standout left tackle.

49ers LT Trent Williams “Has Conviction” In Holdout; Latest On WR Brandon Aiyuk

Two of the 49ers’ best offensive players, LT Trent Williams and WR Brandon Aiyuk, are seeking new and/or improved contracts, with Williams staging a holdout and Aiyuk engaging in a hold-in. Williams’ endeavor is a little more unusual, as he is 36 and under contract for three more seasons, while Aiyuk is 26 and is currently on the fifth-year option of his rookie deal.

That said, Williams continues to perform like the future Hall of Famer that he is, having earned First Team All-Pro honors in each of his first three years in San Francisco. His importance to the club’s offensive operation is unmistakable, and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler expects the Niners to address Williams’ deal in some way (subscription required).

When it comes to Williams’ contract, Fowler uses the term “rework” rather than “extend,” which our Sam Robinson suggested when Williams’ holdout was first reported and which makes sense in light of the blocker’s age and remaining club control. While there is no guaranteed money left on Williams’ deal, he is obviously in no danger of being released this season, so his $20.05MM base salary for the 2024 campaign is not in jeopardy.

However, his deal now slots in fifth among offensive tackles in terms of AAV, and regardless of the length of a contract when it is signed, an NFL club’s brass cannot be terribly surprised when a high-performing player seeks additional security after the guarantees on that contract run out. Per Fowler, Williams “has conviction” in his holdout, and as a player who has secured over $170MM in his playing career, he is not terribly concerned about the $50K in non-waivable fines that accrue with each day of camp that he misses.

While Williams and Aiyuk play different positions and are at very different stages of their careers, their contract situations do impact each other. As Fowler notes, Aiyuk is not budging from his “pay-me-or-trade-me” stance, and San Francisco is unwilling to authorize a contract at or near the top of a ballooning WR market that now has four players making at least $30MM per season. The ESPN scribe says negotiations between player and team have not progressed, and that trade offers may ultimately become too tempting for the Niners to pass up.

If San Francisco does move Aiyuk, giving Williams a raise would become much easier. One way or another, the team realizes it may need to undergo a “thoughtful reset” of its salary cap in the near future, meaning that it will need to part ways with a number of high-end players in order to remain competitive over the long haul. Of course, quarterback Brock Purdy will likely land a massive extension next season, adding another expensive contract to a roster that currently has seven players earning between $15MM-$34MM per year, with a few others just below that $15MM/year threshold.

49ers LT Trent Williams Staging Holdout

JULY 25: Making Williams’ no-show official, the 49ers placed their starting left tackle on the reserve/did not report list. For a second straight year, the 49ers have a confirmed holdout.

JULY 24: Trent Williams remains on a six-year contract that runs through 2026, but the acclaimed left tackle is no longer satisfied with the terms of that deal. Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday (via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport) the veteran blocker is holding out.

This news follows Brandon Aiyuk‘s hold-in decision. The 49ers could waive Aiyuk’s fines — as they did for Nick Bosa last year — because he is on a rookie contract, but Williams must be fined daily for skipping camp. The 15th-year tackle has done well for himself since entering the league — on a CBA that was friendlier to first-round picks — in 2010, so accruing camp fines does not figure to derail Williams here.

[RELATED: Brandon Aiyuk Begins Hold-In Effort]

Williams signed a six-year, $138.1MM deal to stay in San Francisco during the 2021 free agency period, maximizing his leverage by hitting the market. The contract has slid to fourth among tackles, and the Vikings’ Tuesday deal with Christian Darrisaw — when the details emerge — may drop the All-Pro 49ers tackle to fifth at his position. Penei Sewell, Laremy Tunsil and Andrew Thomas are each tied to higher AAVs than Williams, who does not have any guarantees remaining on his deal.

Williams provides tremendous value for the 49ers, having almost definitely secured a Hall of Fame route during his time in the Bay Area. He will attempt to exert more leverage to secure some better terms.

This is, however, a rather interesting holdout due to Williams’ age. He turned 36 last week and has been linked to retirement. The former Washington draftee said late last season he would play at least one more year, but he is not a candidate for a massive extension — especially with three years left on his current deal. The Oklahoma product did say a bit earlier last year he wanted to play until age 40, however. That longevity aim may well have come up during offseason talks.

A straight raise would stand to appeal to Williams due to his age, as the 49ers giving him another extension that runs beyond 2026 may not be especially relevant here. The four-time All-Pro is due $20.1MM in base salary this season. While that money is not guaranteed, Williams is in no danger of being released or traded before Week 1. As a vested veteran, his salary will lock in just before the start of the season.

Re-emerging after a dispute with Washington preceded a full-season absence in 2019, Williams established a new career peak in San Francisco. He has been the first-team left tackle on the past three All-Pro squads; that came after his Washington tenure did not include any first-team All-Pro nods. The 49ers lost both the games Williams missed last season, with he and Deebo Samuel‘s absences serving as central reasons for the eventual NFC champions’ midseason swoon.

A panel of anonymous NFL evaluators ranked Williams as the NFL’s top tackle recently, via ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler, and Pro Football Focus slotted Williams as the game’s best left tackle last season. PFF ranked Williams first among all tackles in 2020, 2021 and 2022. Williams’ leverage also comes from the 49ers featuring an O-line with no one else remotely near Williams’ talent level, with the team keeping costs low around its LT anchor.

The Chiefs pursued Williams in free agency three years ago, helping to drive up the 49ers’ price. Still, Williams signing a six-year contract — one that drove the AAV to a then-OL-record $23.01MM — gave the team considerable control here. Three- and four-year deals have become the NFL norm for non-quarterbacks, allowing opportunities to cash in not long after. As one of the top wage earners in NFL history ($171MM — eighth all time), Williams did well to secure a homestretch contract. But his performance has exceeded expectations since.

The Raiders rewarded Maxx Crosby by moving money from future years to 2024; the 49ers would stand to have that option with Williams. He will incur fines north of $40K per day by skipping camp. Of course, Williams’ past earnings would give him some solid ground on which to stand — depending on how far he plans to go to prove his point.

NFL Active Leaders In Career Earnings

Kirk Cousins‘ four-year, $180MM deal with the Falcons this season vaulted him up the list of active career earners. This was by virtue of his $50MM signing bonus, adding to the more than $231MM he earned from the Commanders and (mostly) the Vikings throughout his career. Even under the worst-case scenario, Cousins will still see at least another $50MM come his way via his contract with Atlanta, which would push his career earnings north of $331MM.

While the soon-to-be 36-year-old Cousins will surely see a significant portion of the $80MM worth of unguaranteed money on his contract, he’ll still be hard pressed to catch Aaron Rodgers on the career-earnings list. Rodgers earned more than $306MM during his long tenure in Green Bay, and he’s already made close to $37MM during his one season in New York (mostly via the $35MM signing bonus on his reworked pact).

With at least $40MM of additional guarantees coming his way from the Jets, Rodgers will continue to grow his lead as the highest-earning NFL player of all time. Both Rodgers and Matthew Stafford were able to leap Tom Brady among the NFL’s highest all-time earners over the past year.

With all that said, we’ve listed the 25 active players who have earned the most money in their NFL careers (h/t to OverTheCap.com). While this list is up to date, it doesn’t account for soon-to-realized salaries for the 2024 campaign. This list is also solely focused on NFL cash and does not include off-the-field earnings:

  1. QB Aaron Rodgers: $343MM
  2. QB Matthew Stafford: $328MM
  3. QB Russell Wilson: $305MM
  4. QB Kirk Cousins: $281MM
  5. QB Jared Goff: $234MM
  6. LB Von Miller: $179MM
  7. QB Joe Flacco: $177MM
  8. OT Trent Williams: $171MM
  9. QB Derek Carr: $165MM
  10. LB Khalil Mack: $162MM
  11. QB Dak Prescott: $161MM
  12. DL Aaron Donald: $157MM
  13. QB Jimmy Garoppolo: $150MM
  14. DE Calais Campbell: $143MM
  15. QB Deshaun Watson: $142MM
  16. QB Patrick Mahomes: $136MM
  17. DE Joey Bosa: $134MM
  18. DL Leonard Williams: $134MM
  19. WR Mike Evans: $132MM
  20. QB Carson Wentz: $130MM
  21. WR DeAndre Hopkins: $128MM
  22. WR Stefon Diggs: $126MM
  23. DE Cameron Jordan: $126MM
  24. OT Lane Johnson: $121MM
  25. DT Chris Jones: $120MM

Latest On 49ers LT Trent Williams, TE George Kittle

Much of the 49ers’ offseason has revolved around the financial futures of wideouts Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel. Both appear to be on track to remain in San Francisco for 2024, but other members of the team’s offensive core could soon have their respective contract statuses become talking points.

During a recent SportsCenter appearance, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported on the presence of “whispers around some in the industry” that left tackle Trent Williams could seek out a new deal (h/t Joseph Zucker of Bleacher Report). The future Hall of Famer is on the books for three more seasons, but no guaranteed salary remains on his pact.

Williams inked a six-year, $138MM deal in 2021 allowing him to remain in the Bay Area for (presumably) the remainder of his career. The extent to which he will keep playing has become a talking point in recent years, with retirement being a consideration following the 2023 campaign. The 35-year-old has since named playing to age 40 as a goal, and he confirmed he will suit up for the coming season.

Recent developments in the market has seen Williams drop to fourth in the league in terms of annual average value amongst offensive tackles. He is due $20.9MM in 2024, followed by $23.35MM the following season and $33.06MM in 2026. It will be interesting to see if continued strong play from the 11-time Pro Bowler (who has earned first-team All-Pro acclaim each of the past three years) leads to an arrangement featuring new money up front or an acceleration of his future compensation.

Fowler also relayed a similar sentiment concerning tight end George Kittle. Two years remain on his pact (the third-highest at the position in terms of AAV), but he too does not have any outstanding salary which is guaranteed. Fowler notes the core muscle surgery which Kittle underwent this offseason has taken attention away from a potential contract issue toward his recovery process. On the latter note, the 30-year-old recently noted (via Matt Barrows of The Athletic) he is rehabbing as expected and is on schedule to take part in training camp.

San Francisco has new deals for Aiyuk and/or Samuel, along with a mega-extension for quarterback Brock Purdy as early as next offseason to plan for. For the time being, the futures of Williams and Kittle should not be considered an issue, but the report of potential discontent in the future could prove to be significant as the team attempts to keep as many members of its nucleus in place as possible.

49ers LT Trent Williams To Play In 2024

Coming after a 2019 standoff led to a messy Washington exit, Trent Williams‘ San Francisco years have swung the door wide open for Hall of Fame enshrinement. The perennial Pro Bowl left tackle is not leaving fans in suspense about his 2024 plans, either.

Williams considered retirement after the 2023 season, but the 14th-year blocker has already guaranteed he will be back next season. Williams said he will “100%” play in 2024, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle notes. The contract Williams agreed to in 2021 runs through 2026.

The 2020 trade to the 49ers has rejuvenated Williams, who posted his third straight first-team All-Pro honor this season. Joe Staley‘s left tackle successor now has 11 Pro Bowls, which ties some legendary NFL figures for the tackle record.

Hall of Famers Anthony Muñoz, Jonathan Ogden and Willie Roaf also received 11 such honors. A 12th such nod represents one of the reasons Williams, 35, is committing to returning, with a record 12th invite being “a big thing” for the ex-Washington draftee. While Williams did not play in 2019, he has made the Pro Bowl in each of the past 11 years in which he suited up.

The 49ers went 13-3 in games Brock Purdy started; two of the three losses came with Williams sidelined due to injury. He earned first-team All-Pro honors once again upon return, helping drive the 49ers to a seven-game win streak that secured them the NFC’s No. 1 seed. With the teams perceived all season long as their top NFC threats — Dallas, Philadelphia — eliminated, Williams has his best shot to play in his first Super Bowl.

San Francisco has geared its O-line around Williams, who represents the only expensive piece on this front. The team let five-year right tackle Mike McGlinchey walk in free agency, with Williams and Jake Brendel surrounded by rookie-contract cogs or low-cost veterans. Williams signed a six-year, $138MM deal as a free agent in 2021, exploring the market before agreeing to re-sign with the 49ers. That agreement has been vital for San Francisco, which has turned the 2022 draft’s Mr. Irrelevant into an All-Pro quarterback.

Williams said in September his newfound goal will be to play until his age-40 season, though a proclamation after a 17-game season obviously carries more weight regarding a player’s future. The 2010 first-round pick is tied to a $20.1MM base salary in 2024, but with a cap hit skyrocketing from $12.6MM in 2023 to $31.6MM in ’24, it should be expected the 49ers go with a restructure ahead of Williams’ 15th season.

49ers LT Trent Williams, WR Deebo Samuel To Play In Week 10

The 49ers will welcome back left tackle Trent Williams and wide receiver Deebo Samuel for the club’s Week 10 game against the Jaguars, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com subsequently wrote that Williams is facing an “uphill battle” to suit up, but Schefter doubled down on his earlier report and noted that while Williams is not fully recovered from his sprained ankle, he will be back on the field for the Jacksonville matchup.

Both Williams and Samuel were injured in the Niners’ Week 6 loss to the Browns, the first of three consecutive defeats that turned a 5-0 Super Bowl frontrunner into a 5-3 outfit facing plenty of scrutiny. While Williams was able to finish the Cleveland contest, he found himself in an orthopedic walking boot afterwards and was then sidelined for San Francisco’s next two games against the Vikings and Bengals.

Samuel, meanwhile, sustained a hairline fracture in his shoulder in the early stages of the Cleveland game and was unable to return. Like Williams, Samuel missed both the Minnesota and Cincinnati matchups. A well-timed Week 9 bye allowed the high-profile duo to sufficiently recover for today’s battle with the 6-2 Jags.

It is perhaps no coincidence that quarterback Brock Purdy has struggled without his top wideout for most of the last three games and his 10-time Pro Bowl left tackle for the last two. After throwing nine TDs and zero interceptions over the first five games of the season, a stretch in which he posted QB ratings of well over 100.0 four times, Purdy has thrown three TD passes against six interceptions during the 49ers’ losing streak. Obviously, the return of Williams and Samuel could go a long way in helping the 2022 seventh-rounder right the ship.

Williams may be in his age-35 season, but he is still playing at an elite level. The No. 4 overall pick of the 2010 draft has earned a stellar overall grade of 81.9 from Pro Football Focus for his work this season, which positions him as the fifth-best tackle among 77 qualified players. While the Oklahoma product suggested that he was considering retirement in the immediate aftermath of San Francisco’s NFC Championship Game defeat to close out the 2022 campaign, he said right before the start of the current season that he hopes to play until he is 40. He is presently under contract through 2026.

Samuel, a First Team All-Pro in 2021 who led the NFL in yards-per-reception rate that year, has 20 catches for 302 yards (15.1 YPR) and a score through five games and part of a sixth in 2023. The 27-year-old dual-threat weapon has added 18 carries for 95 yards and a rushing TD.

OL Rumors: Steelers, 49ers, Jets, Fins, Pugh

The Steelers may have executed a permanent switch at right tackle, and Chukwuma Okorafor believes it came because of comments he made near the end of the team’s Week 8 loss to the Jaguars. Pittsburgh benched Okorafor for its Thursday-night game against Tennessee, moving first-round pick Broderick Jones into the lineup. Okorafor said (via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Brian Batko) the Steelers benched him because he was “acting out” toward the end of the Pittsburgh-Jacksonville game. Mike Tomlin said (via The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly) Jones was deserving of an opportunity and helped the Steelers “provide a spark.”

Signed to a three-year, $29.25MM deal in 2022, Okorafor has been the Steelers’ starting right tackle since 2020. The team drafted Jones with the intent on making him its future left tackle, but a configuration in which left tackle Dan Moore moved to the right side to accommodate the rookie was floated as the more likely scenario this offseason. Since the Week 9 change, Jones and Okorafor said (via Kaboly and the Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac) they expect the Moore-Jones starting duo to remain due to Jones receiving the first-team reps this week. The Steelers’ depth chart lists Jones as the RT starter, though the Georgia product said he would prefer to play left tackle, where he lined up for the SEC powerhouse. Okorafor believes what he said has resulted in “significant” ramifications but maintains his benching was not performance-based, creating an interesting storyline to follow in Pittsburgh.

Here are some O-line subplots from elsewhere around the NFL:

  • Missing the past two games with an ankle injury, Trent Williams returned to a limited practice Thursday. Kyle Shanahan said the 49ers‘ All-Pro left tackle has dealt with more than a low ankle sprain, via 49ersWebZone.com’s David Bonilla. The 49ers lost both the games Williams missed, after dropping from the unbeaten ranks — in Cleveland — following Williams’ injury-driven exit in Week 6. A limited practice represents a good sign for Williams’ Week 10 availability and San Francisco’s offensive capabilities.
  • The Jets may soon be without yet another offensive lineman. Robert Saleh described Billy Turner as encountering a “concerning” injury, and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport notes the veteran blocker suffered a broken bone in his hand. This will leave Turner’s status uncertain for the Jets’ Week 10 tilt. Turner has not practiced this week, pointing to an absence. The Jets have turned to Turner at guard in the wake of Connor McGovern and Wes Schweitzer‘s IR trips. The team is likely to have Duane Brown back, however; the 38-year-old tackle — who remains on IR — has practiced fully this week. Saleh recently pointed to Brown’s return kicking Mekhi Becton back to right tackle.
  • Although left tackle Terron Armstead came off IR in time to face the Chiefs, the Dolphins played their Germany game without both starting guards. Isaiah Wynn is on IR with a potential season-ending injury, and Robert Hunt missed the game because of a hamstring ailment. Wynn fill-in Robert Jones also left the game, due to a hyperextended knee. While Mike McDaniel said Jones does not need surgery, the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson notes Lester Cotton and 2022 left guard starter Liam Eichenberg are set to vie for the starting role before the Dolphins return to action in Week 11. A third-year UDFA who made his first career start in Week 9, Jones is likely to miss some time, per McDaniel.
  • Justin Pugh signed a one-year, $1.43MM deal to rejoin the Giants last month. Pugh’s second Giants contract includes an incentive package worth $2.1MM, he revealed on his NetWorth Podcast (via the New York Daily News’ Pat Leonard). Pugh can earn part of that $2.1MM by hitting the 50%, 70% and 90% playing-time thresholds from the point he debuted (Week 6). Despite the October arrival, Pugh has started — at both guard and tackle — in each of the four games in which he has played this season.

49ers’ Christian McCaffrey To Play In Week 7

12:14pm: An update from Schefter confirms that McCaffrey will indeed play tonight. He received treatment throughout the week, though Schefter adds he did not partake in any contract drills during his limited practice time. It will thus be interesting to see how he holds up in game action as he tries to extend his touchdown streak while avoiding any missed games since his arrival in San Francisco.

8:56am: The 49ers will be shorthanded on offense when they take the field against the Vikings tonight, but their backfield is set to be intact. Christian McCaffrey is expected to play, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

McCaffrey exited San Francisco’s Week 6 loss with an oblique injury after having briefly attempted to re-enter the contest. His absence for part of the game contributed to San Francisco’s season-low scoring output and an underwhelming 108 rushing yards. Especially with wideout Deebo Samuel set to miss at least the next two games, a healthy McCaffrey would be a welcomed development for San Francisco’s offense.

Since being traded away by the Panthers last year, the latter has been as advertised with respect to his impact on the 49ers’ efficiency on the ground and through the air. McCaffrey posted 1,210 scrimmage yards and 10 total touchdowns in just 11 games in the Bay Area after the trade, and that success continued into the start of the 2023 campaign. The 27-year-old leads the league with 553 rushing yards, and even with the injury shortening his Week 6 appearance, he was able to continue his streak of scoring at least one rushing or receiving touchdown in every contest so far.

McCaffrey did not practice on Thursday or Friday, but he logged a limited session on Saturday to clear a path to suiting up for tonight’s primetime matchup. In case he is unable to play, former UDFA Jordan Mason would likely be in line to handle starting duties. The 24-year-old produced 27 yards and one touchdown on his five carries with McCaffrey out of the game, and it would be interesting to see if he could could carry over that efficiency with a full starter’s workload. For now, though, it appears that won’t be necessary.

In other San Francisco injury news, left tackle Trent Williams missed practice all week and is listed as doubtful for Monday’s game. The 10-time Pro Bowler was able to return to last week’s loss to the Browns while battling an ankle injury, but he was in a walking boot after the contest was over. That cast doubt on his ability to play tonight, and it is trending in the direction of a notable absence for the 49ers’ offense as they look to rebound from their only loss of the season so far.