The San Francisco 49ers host the Washington Commanders on Monday night, with both teams going in different directions heading into Week 6. The 49ers are one of the hottest teams in the NFL, sitting undefeated at 5-0 after a thrilling 32-29 victory over the defending champion Seahawks last week. The Commanders, meanwhile, are 1-3-1 and hoping to bounce back after a frustrating 27-27 overtime tie against the New York Giants last weekend.
All the headlines coming out of San Francisco have been centered around injuries. The 49ers will be without star edge rusher Nick Bosa, receiver Deebo Samuel, and potentially Mike Evans. Washington, meanwhile, won't have its top running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt, along with several other players.
But the game will also have a personal subplot, with 49ers left tackle Trent Williams facing the franchise where he spent the first 10 years of his NFL career. Ahead of Monday night's game, Williams made an eye-catching admission about his former team, saying he sometimes forgets he even played in Washington. "Sometimes I forget that I even played there," Williams said.
"I've spent almost as much time here as I did there." More news: Chiefs Predicted to Make Blockbuster Trade for Star Receiver Williams entered the NFL as the fourth overall pick in the 2010 draft, selected by Washington after a standout college career at Oklahoma. He spent a decade with the franchise, appearing in 120 games and earning seven straight Pro Bowl selections from 2012 to 2019. He also earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2015, establishing himself as one of the best offensive tackles in football.
His time in Washington ended after a difficult stretch involving a dispute with the team's medical staff over a cancer diagnosis. Williams sat out the 2019 season before they traded him to San Francisco in 2020. The move proved successful for both sides, with Williams becoming a key part of the 49ers' offense, earning three straight first-team All-Pro nods from 2021 to 2023.
More news: Chargers’ Justin Herbert Hit With Brutal Reality Check Right Before Chiefs Game More news: NFL Refs Under Fire Again After Head-Scratching Call in Jaguars vs Texans Game Now a veteran leader for the team, Williams has spent nearly as much time with the 49ers as he did in Washington. His comments might sound like a dig at the Commanders, but Williams also made it clear he still has affection for the franchise and its fans. Still the timing is notable, with Williams set to face the team that drafted him for the first time in years.
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