SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Although Mykel Williams has not yet been cleared for on-field work and likely won’t be for some time, last year’s first-round pick appears to be making steady strides in his recovery. During Friday’s rookie practice session, Williams worked on the far north side of the field, performing lateral movements and resistance band exercises for 35 minutes before heading to the team’s weight room. The 49ers defensive end tore his right ACL on Nov. 2 at MetLife Stadium during a win over the New York Giants. General manager John Lynch noted that Williams, selected 11th overall in 2025, is expected to return to practice at some point during training camp, but it remains unclear whether he will be ready for the regular-season opener against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia, on Sept. 10.
In contrast, Williams’ teammate Nick Bosa, who tore his ACL six weeks earlier, is on track to return for Week 1. If Williams is unavailable, potential candidates to start opposite Bosa include Keion White, Sam Okuayinonu, Cam Sample, or third-round pick Romello Height, especially if the Rams open with a pass-heavy formation. Height, a lean 6-foot-3, 239-pound edge rusher, worked intensely with defensive line coach Kris Kocurek on Friday, displaying impressive quickness. However, his ability to shed blocks during training camp will be a key area to watch. Meanwhile, fourth-round selection Gracen Halton, who stands the same height but weighs 54 pounds more, demonstrated powerful bursts, sending blocking sleds flying during drills.
The 49ers have signed six of their eight draft picks to rookie contracts, including top receiver De’Zhaun Stribling. The two unsigned rookies are Height and Halton. Stribling led the team’s wide receivers through individual drills during the rookie minicamp, looking sharp alongside undrafted free agent Will Pauling from Notre Dame. Pauling, who recorded 381 yards and six touchdowns for the Fighting Irish last season, also handled punt return duties on Friday. Neither Stribling nor the other draft picks participated in the seven-on-seven sessions that followed individual drills—those were reserved for undrafted rookies and tryout players. Stribling did, however, line up behind other wideouts in formation, taking mental reps.
Fourth-round pick Carver Willis, who played left tackle for six years at Washington, is now transitioning to guard. The 6-foot-5, 303-pound Willis said he played tackle to help his team win but was consistently told he had no NFL future at that spot.
“He gives that same type of interior presence that last year you guys went out and added big C.J. (West) and big A.C. (Alfred Collins),” said new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris. “Big-time run stoppers, big-time guys that can just get off the ball, disrupt and do a bunch of different things, and you go out there and keep adding guys in those positions so you can get that constant roll-through of guys that cause absolute disruption for everybody that we play against.”