The San Francisco 49ers survived a wild 42-38 win over the Chicago Bears, but they may have paid for it with two of their biggest stars in question for the January 2 night showdown vs. the Seattle Seahawks.
On The Pat McAfee Show, ESPN insider Adam Schefter delivered the bluntest early read on All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams, who left on the game’s opening snap with a right hamstring injury. “I think it will be tough for him to make it back on a short week,” Schefter said.
Schefter also offered optimism on tight end George Kittle, who was inactive Sunday night with an ankle sprain. “George Kittle is pushing to play this Saturday,” Schefter said.
Trent Williams changed the entire feel, and the numbers back it up
Williams’ injury came on a nightmare first play: Brock Purdy threw a pick-six, and Williams pulled up chasing down linebacker T.J. Edwards. He didn’t return, and Kyle Shanahan said postgame the team still didn’t know how serious it was, adding that Williams told him he’s “never pulled a hamstring before.”
San Francisco’s offense still exploded without him, but the bigger concern is what the 49ers look like long-term if Williams can’t go.
Over the 2022-23 seasons, the 49ers averaged 28.7 points per game with Williams compared to 21.8 without him, per StatMuse. And in 2024, they went 1-6 in games he didn’t play.
That’s why Schefter’s “short week” warning hit so hard with the No. 1 seed sitting right there.
The “sous-chef” factor: why the backup isn’t totally cold
The 49ers turned to Austen Pleasants at left tackle, and Shanahan praised him afterward. The offense piled up 496 yards, 32 first downs, and allowed one sack, according to the San Francisco Chronicle’s game recap.
The 49ers routinely give Williams veteran rest days, so the young replacement isn’t stepping in totally blind, but he’s not Trent Williams. Prior to the win over the bears, Pleasants had only played 12 snaps this season, according to ESPN.
It’s the perfect analogy: relying on a backup because he’s gotten practice reps is like a sous-chef stepping in for a master chef, he knows the kitchen, but the signature dish usually tastes different.
George Kittle “pushing to play” after skipping Bears game
Kittle missed the full week of practice leading into Sunday night and was ruled out vs. Chicago. Schefter had previously described him as “highly unlikely” to play against the Bears, which ended up being exactly how it played out.
Now the entire focus is whether Kittle can ramp up fast enough to be available Saturday, because a win over Seattle locks up the NFC’s No. 1 seed and home-field advantage.
What happens next (and what to watch)
The 49ers’ week comes down to two practice questions:
- Does Williams do anything at all by midweek, or is it rest + treatment only?
- Does Kittle get on the field in any capacity as he “pushes” to return?
The 49ers’ injury decisions are also coming with the NFL spotlight turned all the way up. The league locked in Seahawks-49ers for the prime-time window, setting kickoff for 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 3, 2026 at Levi’s Stadium on ABC/ESPN.
The matchup had been sitting in “TBD” territory because of the NFL’s Week 18 flex process, and now it’s officially a marquee stage for a game that could swing the NFC West and top-seed pressure.
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