Mykel Williams’ ACL Return Sparks 49ers’ Defensive Surge
The former Georgia pass rusher recorded his first sack of the 2026 season in only his second game back from a knee injury.
A torn anterior cruciate ligament kept Mykel Williams off the field for most of the 2026 NFL season. His second game back produced a third-quarter sack that helped San Francisco secure a 23-17 victory over Washington on Monday at Levi’s Stadium.
The play arrived on 3rd-and-8. Williams, a former Georgia Bulldogs pass rusher, drove into the pocket and brought down Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels. A Washington offensive lineman appeared to push Williams directly into Daniels during the sequence.
“Man, like crack. No I’m playin,” Williams told reporters when asked about the feeling of recording his first sack of 2026, according to Gridiron Heroics.
San Francisco improved to 6-0 with the win. The franchise has not lost a game this season, relying heavily on defensive stops late in contests after building early advantages.
ACL tears typically sideline players for nine to twelve months. Returning to full-speed pass rushing within that window requires extensive rehabilitation. Williams spent the bulk of the year recovering before appearing in his first game recently. His snap count and production remain closely monitored by the coaching staff as he rebuilds explosiveness off the edge.
Washington threatened to erase a 20-point deficit in Santa Clara. The Commanders scored a touchdown late in the third quarter and added another in the fourth period, but San Francisco’s defense closed out the game.
The Niners established control immediately. Tight end George Kittle caught a touchdown pass at the 10:53 mark of the opening quarter. Washington responded with a field goal at 8:48. Running back Christian McCaffrey then scored with under five minutes remaining in the first frame. Two more touchdowns and a field goal followed, creating the cushion Washington ultimately failed to overcome.
Historical precedent favors teams reaching 6-0. Since the NFL expanded to a 17-game schedule in 2021, franchises starting with six consecutive wins have reached the playoffs at a rate exceeding 90 percent, according to league records.
San Francisco travels to face the Atlanta Falcons in Week 7. A bye week follows in Week 8.
