Niners Target Full Workload for Williams, Fewer Snaps for Aiyuk

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers are gearing up for their regular season opener against the New York Jets on Monday night, with the return of key offensive players. Left tackle Trent Williams and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk have resolved their contract situations and rejoined the team for practice this week.

However, there remains uncertainty regarding how many snaps each player will be able to handle in the game. Both athletes missed nearly all of the training camp and preseason, raising questions about their fitness levels. Coach Kyle Shanahan has indicated that Williams is expected to play close to his normal workload, while Aiyuk may have a more limited role.

Trent Williams, as an offensive tackle, is critical to the team’s performance, making it unlikely that the 49ers would rotate him out in favor of backup Jaylon Moore unless absolutely necessary. Coach Shanahan noted that Williams has returned in good shape and has progressively improved during the week’s practices, yet there is still a need to monitor his stamina during the game.

“I’d like him to play the whole game, but we’ve got to watch it closely,” Shanahan explained. “We’ll talk with him about it. I haven’t done much with rotating tackles. It feels odd to see Trent sitting on the sidelines.” An official roster change will be made by Monday afternoon to accommodate Williams, who was previously on the reserve/did not report list following a 40-day holdout for a contract renegotiation.

This week, Williams signed a new contract worth $82.66 million over three years, with $48 million guaranteed. Offensive line coach Chris Foerster stated that Williams is looking sharp following his practice sessions. “Trent is Trent. He always shows up,” Foerster remarked. “It’s been a gradual progression, but he looked much better today.”

As for Brandon Aiyuk, he signed a four-year, $120 million extension at the end of August. Though he was involved in team activities as a “hold in” throughout the preseason, he hasn’t engaged in full practices until this week. Shanahan indicated that Aiyuk is in excellent shape but anticipates he will play fewer snaps due to the demands of his position. Last season, Aiyuk was on the field for 82% of the team’s offensive plays.

“I’m not sure how many snaps he will get yet,” said Shanahan. “He usually plays most of the game, but he’s been in great shape. His soreness hasn’t been significant, and he looks ready to go.”

Aiyuk has made an effort to solidify his connection with quarterback Brock Purdy, organizing a personal throwing session last weekend. Purdy expressed that this extra practice was advantageous. “It was huge for us. Just being on the field together, getting our fundamentals down. It’s allowed us to get back into our rhythm this week,” he mentioned.

With both Williams and Aiyuk back in action, the 49ers have also listed running back Christian McCaffrey as questionable due to calf and Achilles issues. Although McCaffrey participated in practices this week, he expressed confidence in his ability to take on his typical workload during the game against the Jets. Shanahan clarified that McCaffrey’s current injury is not related to a prior issue from last season, adding that it might be similar.

If McCaffrey is unable to play a full game, Jordan Mason will be the first in line to step in as running back. Additionally, safety Talanoa Hufanga, who is recovering from a torn ACL, is listed as doubtful. He recently returned to practice after spending much of the off-season on the Physically Unable to Perform list. While his participation against the Jets is uncertain, Shanahan noted that Hufanga has shown significant improvement.

“He’s looking great, and we’re just being cautious with him. We haven’t ruled him out, just keeping it safe,” Shanahan said. “If it comes down to an emergency, he’s available.”

Further down the injury report, defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos (knee) and linebacker Dee Winters (ankle) have been confirmed out for the game against the Jets. Guard Aaron Banks (pinky) is also listed as questionable.