San Francisco 49ers offensive sort out Trent Williams (71) celebrates with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) after operating again Elijah Mitchell scored towards the Dallas Cowboys in the course of the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff soccer sport in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022. (AP Photograph/Roger Steinman)
SANTA CLARA — Trent Williams gingerly walked off the 49ers apply subject Friday, doing so in his No. 71 jersey, black shorts and, most encouragingly, with out an orthopedic-support boot on his sprained ankle.
He didn't formally apply, as was the case the earlier two days, however there's a real perception he'll play in Sunday’s NFC Championship Sport towards the host Los Angeles Rams.
“He got here out for walk-through at present and Trent’s adamant he’s going,” coach Kyle Shanahan stated on a video name with reporters. “He was that method final time, too (in a Week 18 scratch at L.A.).
“I consider Trent when he says he’s going to do every little thing he can to play. I’d be shocked if he doesn’t (play), however I used to be shocked final time. I used to be additionally shocked he was capable of end the sport vs. Inexperienced Bay.”
Williams is formally listed as questionable, as was his designation three weeks in the past, when an elbow sprain ultimately made him a late scratch earlier than the 49ers’ extra time win towards the host Rams.
Kyle Shanahan nonetheless driving with the beanie. Says he hasn’t taken if off since Tennessee 😂 pic.twitter.com/L4fja684Kc
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) January 28, 2022
“Trent is a monster. You’ve seen that every one 12 months lengthy,” vast receiver Deebo Samuel stated. “I’m not going into element what the plan is. As soon as we get there, you’ll see.”
Shanahan wouldn't verify that Williams sustained a excessive ankle sprain, which is extra critical and sometimes requires prolonged weeks off in comparison with a low sprain.
Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo revealed a bit extra, nonetheless, saying of Williams: “He’s doing every little thing can. I see him put in hours within the coaching room and learning. These excessive ankles are by no means a enjoyable factor; I do know that from expertise.”
Williams apparently bought injured on the primary sequence after halftime, on the identical third-down play by which Deebo Samuel’s shoulder sustained a success earlier than Robbie Gould’s first subject purpose.
“Hopefully with (Williams’) mindset and seeing how his physique reacts Sunday, it should assist us quite a bit,” Shanahan stated, “but when not, we’ll take care of it.”
Colton McKivitz began rather than Williams within the Jan. 9 win over the Rams.
Operating again Jeff Wilson Jr. (knee) can be listed as questionable, the one different participant on the damage report. Cornerback Ambry Thomas (knee) is on monitor to play after lacking Saturday night time’s divisional-round win at Inexperienced Bay.
GAROPPOLO ‘FEELS GREAT’
Garoppolo went to his “feels nice” catchphrase in describing the shoulder and thumb sprains that hindered him the previous month.
This week’s damage report now not lists his shoulder sprain, from two weeks in the past at Dallas, to which he stated: “Feels nice. Arm’s able to roll.”
On his thumb, by which he sustained a torn ligament and bone chip in final month’s loss at Tennessee: “It feels nice. We’ll strategy that after the season a bit extra. It’s holding up for now. It’ll be alright.”
Garoppolo’s preparation for the Rams didn't embrace contact with the final quarterback to face them, his former New England Patriots teammate Tom Brady, whose Bucs rallied in Sunday’s fourth quarter earlier than dropping.
“I give him numerous credit score for the scenario he was, in being down a few guys,” Garoppolo stated of Brady. “He battled again on the finish and gave them a shot. It was a grinder of a sport. It undoubtedly confirmed.”
Garoppolo provided a poignant response when requested about Shanahan saying this offense isn’t structured for a quarterback to place up MVP-like, 400-yard passing video games.
“It’s nearly successful, actually. It’s why you play,” Garoppolo stated. “Stats are cool and every little thing. You play to win the sport and win championships. Possibly numbers don’t present MVP stuff, however Deebo (Samuel) and Trent could possibly be within the dialog if the award was checked out a bit otherwise.”
SAMUEL ON KUPP, L.A.
Samuel, who’s 6-0 towards the Rams, chimed in on a couple of subjects earlier than their newest assembly:
On his motivation to tweet in help of Garoppolo: “It wasn’t motivation. Should you click on on social media, you see individuals speaking, ‘Jimmy this, Jimmy that.’ Numbers don’t lie, so I simply say verify the win share.”
On not learning Rams counterpart Cooper Kupp: “There’s not one other receiver within the league that performs like me or does the issues that I do. I don’t see the necessity to watch anyone.”
On the bodily toll of being a reciever/rusher: “I wouldn’t say it’s a sacrifice. Being a professional is coming in and doing what coaches ask you to do. I wouldn’t say I’m taking the punishment. I’m on the market delivering the blows. It's a bodily state once you’re within the backfield and taking part in wideout, but it surely’s not an excessive amount of of a distinction.”
On SoFi Stadium’s brilliant sightlines: “It’s fairly regular. Anytime you’re inside a dome, they've their blurs of sunshine. As a receiver, you’ve been by all of it, so it’s type of regular to you.”
GETAWAY DAY
The 49ers sometimes fly to Los Angeles a day earlier than their sport, however not this time. They booked a flight Friday night time, about six hours after ending their remaining walk-through apply on residence soil. They left two days prior to every of their earlier playoff video games, at Dallas and at Inexperienced Bay.
Garoppolo stated he was amongst a bunch of gamers who approached Shanahan about an earlier departure.
“I used to be pumped they requested, as a result of I like going Friday. You've extra time to give attention to the sport,” Shanahan stated. “We’ll attempt to land like we'd on the East Coast, round 10 or 11 and go straight to mattress.”
Stated Garoppolo: “It lets you lock in on the sport plan and remove distractions.”
The bus caravan was anticipated to roll out of Levi’s Stadium and towards San Jose Worldwide airport about 7:30 p.m.
RAMS INJURY REPORT
John Wolford, the Rams’ backup quarterback to Matthew Stafford, didn't apply with an sickness, and the workforce stated he has not examined constructive for COVID, in keeping with the Southern California Information Group’s Kevin Modesti.
Left sort out Andrew Whitworth (knee) totally participated in apply and security Taylor Rapp (concussion) remained restricted.
Offensive sort out Joseph Noteboom (chest) is uncertain. Questionable are vast receiver Van Jefferson (knee) and Rapp.