49ers LT and cancer survivor Trent Williams tests positive for COVID-19

The San Francisco 49ers starting left tackle’s status for Week 12 is in doubt after testing positive for COVID-19.

Monday has been an awful day for the NFL in regards to COVID-19 news. Throughout the day, names like Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen, Chicago Bears safety Eddie Jackson, and Baltimore Ravens running backs Mark Ingram and J.K. Dobbins were all placed on their respective teams’ reserve/COVID-19 lists. Unfortunately, there was more COVID-related news in the NFL.

According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, San Francisco 49ers left tackle Trent Williams tested positive for the coronavirus last week. Williams is considered high-risk because he’s a cancer survivor, but he told Graziano that he’s feeling “okay.” However, it’s unknown if Williams will be available for San Francisco’s Week 12 game against the Los Angeles Rams.

This is Williams’ second trip to the COVID-19 list

Williams was placed on the COVID-19 list prior to Week 9, along with receivers Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel, forcing them out of San Francisco’s game against the Green Bay Packers. However, none of those players tested positive, and were listed as close-contacts to wideout Kendrick Bourne. Williams was placed back on the list this past Friday.

Williams was one of nine players currently on the reserve list. The others include Aiyuk, defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw, tight end Daniel Helm, center Hroniss Grasu, linebacker Joe Walker and defensive linemen Arik Armstead, D.J. Jones and Jordan Willis.

Back in 2019, Williams was diagnosed with dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP), a rare form of skin cancer. The offensive tackle discovered a growth on his head six years prior to the diagnosis, which the Washington Football Team’s medical staff determined was “minor.” He underwent surgery to remove the growth just in time, as doctors told him he was weeks away from the cancer spreading to his skull. That was why the Williams demanded a trade from the organization last year, and the team obliged by sending him to the 49ers during the 2020 NFL Draft.

The good news is that Williams is feeling fine after testing positive for the coronavirus, but it’s unknown when he’ll be eligible to return due to the uncertainty of when he contracted the virus. We should learn more about his status for San Francisco’s game against Los Angeles later this week.