49ers’ injury updates: Trent Williams practices, but is no lock to face Jacksonville

SANTA CLARA — The official injury designations for the NFL have long been “probable, questionable, doubtful and out.”

Before the 49ers departed for Jacksonville Friday, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan, modified one of those terms and applied it to standout left tackle Trent Williams.

“I think he’s real questionable to be playing,” Shanahan said. “That’s what my eyes see.”

He got no argument from Williams, who after missing the last two games, strayed from the usual player reaction of stubbornly insisting he’d be in the lineup.

“I agree. We’re going to see,” Williams said. “It’s getting better. It’s improving. Obviously, playing in a game is a different intensity.”

Also listed as questionable was defensive tackle Javon Hargrave (knee), who reported following practice Thursday he had a sore knee. Left guard Aaron Banks (toe) and defensive end Drake Jackson (knee) were declared out.

Williams injured his right ankle against the Cleveland Browns on Oct. 16. He missed only a couple of snaps, then returned, essentially playing on one leg against defensive end Myles Garrett. The 49ers lost that game 19-17 and have since lost to Minnesota 22-17 and Cincinnati 31-17 with Williams on the sideline, replaced by Jaylon Moore.

In continuing against Cleveland, Williams addressed the possibility that all the snaps against Garrett on a bad ankle might not have been the best idea for long-term health.

Would he be back in the lineup for certain had he not played on?

“No way to know. Maybe,” Williams said. “Who knows though? After an ankle sprain, it starts to get inflammation and things like that. I’m pretty sure it did, but I had to do what I had to do at the time.”

Williams, 35, missed three games with a high ankle sprain on the same leg last season and also was injured in 2021 against the Rams. There is some residual damage because of both the injuries and the wear-and-tear of playing in the NFL as well as college and high school.

“I’ve played 14 years (in the NFL), and football the last 20 years of my life,” Williams said. “That’s my right leg. It’s near where everything is falling. I sprained that one plenty of times. You know how it is.”

The 49ers must also consider if playing Williams would be wise considering there’s a cross-country flight home, a home game against Tampa Bay and then a Thanksgiving road assignment in Seattle coming up.

General manager John Lynch, on his weekly appearance on KNBR, conceded the original diagnosis appeared to be a more moderate sprain.

“When you’ve played as long as Trent, he’s had some ankle injuries. I think the MRIs can be tougher to read because you’ve got a lot of chronic old stuff that has been in there,” Lynch said.  “So, when you’re reading the MRIs, don’t want to get into technicalities, but I think it probably was a little more severe than we might have hoped. It’s taken some time.”

Williams said he is unconcerned about the ankle getting worse on the flight given “devices you can use on the plane for inflammation and compression.”

If Williams doesn’t play, Moore would get a third straight start, and this time it would be alongside Jon Feliciano at left guard with Banks out of the lineup.

“I think Jaylon has played his butt off,” Williams said. “I’ve been really, really impressed with the way he’s performed and the progress he’s made from last year to this year, even the preseason to now. I have a lot of faith in him if he has to do it again.”

Jacksonville has a strong pass rush, and right outside linebacker Josh Allen has nine sacks and rushes primarily over the offensive left side. Allen is tied for fifth in sacks with Khalil Mack of the Chargers and trails only Minnesota’s Danielle Hunter (10) and Pittsburgh’s T.J. Watt, Garrett and the Raiders’ Maxx Crosby, all with 9 1/2.

“Another one of those freakazoid type guys, 6-6, can run like the wind, a big strong guy, powerful guy,” Williams said. “An elite pass rusher and one of the reasons this defense is playing really well. Another tough out even when you’re healthy. It’s going to be a long day regardless.”

Asked at the end of the interview if he expected to play against Jacksonville, Williams said, “It’s up in the air. It really is.”

Feliciano steps in

A nine-year veteran of 105 games and 54 starts who has played for the Raiders, Bills and Giants, Feliciano will step in as the starter for at least one game and perhaps more. depending on how Banks’ turf toe progresses.

Last year with the Giants, Feliciano, signed for depth at all three interior line positions, started and played 77 snaps at center against Jacksonville in a 23-17 win.

“I played Jacksonville last year,” Feliciano said. “They have mostly the same guys up front, so I’m familiar with them. It’s the same-old, same-old for me. I’ll be ready.”

Feliciano, subbing for Banks in the 49ers’ big win against Dallas, fared well in 42 snaps. It sounds as if the plan for the 49ers was to begin getting Feliciano some snaps on the right side in place of Spencer Burford, who split time with Daniel Brunskill last season.

“We were going to start playing him a little bit to get him in there regardless because of how consistent he’s been, and now this happened with Banks and he’s got this opportunity,” Shanahan said. “We’ve been real happy with Jon.”

NOTES

— Shanahan is eager to see defensive end Chase Young in his 49ers debut after arriving by trade from Washington. The limited amount of practice, given his position, shouldn’t matter much.

“It’s not a big deal with D-linemen in terms of learning a ton of things,” Shanahan said. “He looked healthy and definitely one of our top eight.”

— Shanahan hopes the days off to rest up and ponder the three-game losing streak will pay dividends.

“I think everyone was kind of bouncing off the walls Monday,” Shanahan said. “It was awesome to get back in here. I think naturally when you’re away and resting and getting a break from everybody that you’re with every day, all day, it’s fun to get back and see everyone again.”

— Three players who are not currently injured or on the 53-man roster were listed as questionable: cornerback Darrell Luter, cornerback Samuel Womack and defensive end Robert Beals. All had their practice windows open this week after recovering from injuries. Linebacker Demetrius Flanigan-Fowles (ankle) was also questionable.