When the 49ers star linebacker, Fred Warner, went down with a fractured and dislocated right ankle against the Buccaneers, it was time for him to waive the 2025 regular season. Though head coach Kyle Shanahan remains hopeful of his return for the offseason workouts but it appears that the injury bug isn’t quitting on San Francisco any time soon. Rookie Mykel Williams sustained an ankle injury in the victory over the New York Giants in week 9. But he continues to show his true “Mamba Mentality” as Warner.

Williams shared Kobe Bryant’s powerful recovery post…the same Warner posted after his season-ending injury. The quote was originally written by Bryant to Gordon Hayward after his 2017 Achilles injury. “Be sad. Be mad. Be frustrated. Scream. Cry. Sulk. When you wake up, you will think it was just a nightmare, only to realize it’s all too real. You will be angry and wish for the day back, the game back, THAT play back. But reality gives nothing back, and nor should you,” it reads.

By sharing Bryant’s words, Williams gave fans a look at his mindset, recognizing the pain of the moment while embracing the challenge ahead. But how exactly did the rookie defensive end get injured?

As for what happened, the Injury occurred late in the fourth quarter when Williams delivered a hit on Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart with under five minutes remaining. After the pass fell incomplete, Williams stayed on the ground, appearing to awkwardly land on his knee after the attempted play.

Before getting injured, Williams had racked up 1 assisted tackle and currently totals 20 tackles and 1 sack. This is a major blow to the already injury-depleted 49ers defense as Shanahan’s problems don’t just end here.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan’s concerns increase

After defensive weapons, Nick Bosa, and  Warner are out for the season, Shanahan’s concerns rise as he is reported to lose another asset. After the game, he revealed to the reporters that the team is “worried” it’s a torn ACL. He shared that Williams is likely out for the season, but the team will conduct an MRI to confirm the extent of the injury. There were early concerns about this, after that play, but it now appears that the rookie’s season-ending injury might be an ACL tear. Even the teammates have shown their concern, along with the determination to move on.

“Mykel is a vital part of the defense, and we’re praying that it’s not (an ACL),” tackle Trent Williams said. “But if it is, it’s still the next-man-up league. Somebody’s got to line up, and we’re going to be dependent on them.” Injuries are part of the game, and everybody deals with it, but we have been hit particularly hard,” Trent Williams said. “We’ve been able to continue and fight past it, but you never know when that straw is just enough to break the camel’s back.”

If it’s an ACL tear, Williams would become the second 49ers defensive end to suffer a season-ending ACL injury this year after Nick Bosa. He went down in early Week 3 against the Arizona Cardinals. It’s been a tough stretch for San Francisco’s defensive line, with injuries continuing to line up.