Source: 49ers sign veteran defensive lineman as Davis prepares for surgery Originally appeared in NBC Bay Area Sports
The 49ers are adding another piece to the defensive line as… They continue to fight against injuries.
San Francisco is signing Defensive tackle Nick Williamsa source confirmed to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Jennifer Lee Chan on Tuesday night: a likely replacement for Kalia Davis, Who will undergo knee surgery? He is expected to miss half of the 2024 NFL regular season on Thursday.
Former NFL quarterback and media personality Chase Daniel was the first to report that San Francisco is adding Williams, noting that he will join the team on a one-year contract.
League source confirms the #49ers They plan to sign Nick Williams tomorrow.
With Kalia Davis heading into surgery, Williams will add much-needed depth at defensive tackle https://t.co/ElT6TiTUaN
— Jennifer Lee Chan – threads @jenniferleechan (@jenniferleechan) August 14, 2024
Williams, a seventh-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, is entering his 12th professional season after spending time with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, New York Giants and, most recently, the Los Angeles Chargers in 2023.
The 34-year-old appeared in 14 games with the Chargers last season and started six of them, recording one sack and two fumble recoveries to go along with 32 tackles, 16 solo and seven for loss.
Williams celebrated the news with a social media post on Tuesday, and he certainly seems excited to join the 49ers.
Williams will reunite with his former Chargers coach, Brandon Staley, who now serves as an assistant on 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan’s staff. Staley and Williams also spent time together in Chicago, where the defensive guru was outside linebackers coach from 2017 to 2018.
Meanwhile, Davis played 30 snaps in The 49ers’ first preseason game and was on his way to earning a roster spot, but the morning after San Francisco’s loss at Tennessee, he was discovered to have structural damage behind his kneecap.
“I think it was one of his better games,” Shanahan said Monday of Davis. “It was really unfortunate. He played impressively the whole game. So, he and we were really surprised that he had such a serious injury.
“It’s a setback, but he had a very good training camp and a very good match. He is in good condition to recover.”
49ers likely to keep Davis The initial list of 53 men He would then place him on injured reserve, allowing him to rejoin the team later in the season.
San Francisco’s newest addition, Williams will get a chance to prove himself with his new team in Week 2 of the preseason, when the 49ers face the New Orleans Saints on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium.
