49ers Trent Williams ‘doing everything physically possible’ to extend career into 40s — such as practicing now

SANTA CLARA Trent Williams is the ers trusted statesman so as he approaches th NFL season and th birthday his words carry massive weight and perspective At Tuesday s mandatory minicamp Williams gushed over quarterback Brock Purdy He is the guy for this franchise as well as new defensive ends Mykel Williams He just has that genetic makeup to be a superstar and Bryce Huff That speed demon off the edge But only Williams knows how strongly he feels about his career s year-to-year day-to-day lifespan Only he can gauge his problematic ankle s strength his post-Super Bowl depression his ever-growing bank account and his true exit strategy I would love to play until I m I would love to make it into that special group But if it s not in my cards it s not in my cards Williams announced I m going to do everything physically realizable and I m going to stay engaged as you re seeing It s my first time here doing OTAs or being in an offseason campaign in perhaps years Indeed Williams brute force and physicality is on display as ever even if he s being limited to just offensive line drills where last week he flattened Sebastian Gutierrez in a one-on-one drill Trent s at a different time in his career than everyone else coach Kyle Shanahan noted But I love Trent being around so everyone so people see how much he cares about football and works at football I m going to do everything manageable and put a good product of football out there Williams added When it s not going my way then I ll know I could play until I m Who knows I m definitely not going to retire with something left in the tank San Francisco ers Trent Williams practices with San Francisco ers Spencer Burford at Levi's Stadium practice field in Santa Clara Calif on Wednesday June Shae Hammond Bay Area News Group Williams turns on July This will be his sixth season as the ers left tackle His three-year run as an AP First-Team All-Pro ended last season with him missing the final seven games because of an ankle and heel issue It s good It s in the past Williams declared Williams held out through training camp last year before reporting in Week with a revised contract three years million No guaranteed money awaits in and Williams vowed he ll let the ers know early enough to make alternative plans whenever he s done I d do myself and my teammates a disservice if I m looking toward the end I m paid People count on me to be here now If my play warrants more guarantees or a new deal or another year or two on the deal then I m here for it If not it s time to sail into the sunset Williams has helped groom Spencer Burford s transition from guard including offseason work at Williams Houston gym and it s Burford who has lined up in Williams place at left tackle during full-team drills Three years ago the ers used the nd pick on a quarterback whose blindside is Williams responsibility He is the guy for this band He is the guy for this franchise Williams mentioned It s just the tip of the iceberg He s going to get another contract He s going to win a lot of football games He s that good of a athlete Williams was just as complimentary of defensive end Mykel Williams who s of no relation and has been limited to individual conditioning since last week because of a minor hamstring issue He s a mountain of a man He s a statue Trent Williams stated To be that size and have that frame -foot- pounds and be that quick and that fluid in short areas He just has that genetic makeup to be a superstar as a defensive lineman Now obviously it has to happen on Sunday challenge days and he s well capable of that but from my first impression that s what puts me in the mind He s going to be a very talented defensive line and he s going to make his name in this NFL Several names exited the ers roster this offseason and Williams chalked it up as the business side of the profession and he noted that close ally Deebo Samuel will flourish in Washington Williams was pleased to see the confidence and atmosphere swirling around the ers a year after last year s trauma both on and off the field including his son s stillborn delivery Setting the year s dire tone was a quick turnaround from the ers Super Bowl loss in overtime to Kansas City It took me a long time even on into last season Even playing the Chiefs again I felt that hurt Williams commented This offseason could have been a blessing in disguise We ll see We refreshed the roster We have a few younger guys In the long run it should help having that time off AIYUK APPEARS Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk appeared agile and upbeat while emerging to watch practice his first appearance during a media session this offseason He s making his way back He s still in the middle of it so he s working through that Shanahan revealed He s been around and been rehabbing for the the greater part part He s been out to chosen practices It was good to have him out nowadays A year ago Aiyuk did not show for mandatory minicamp during his convoluted path to an eventual contract extension STRENGTH CENTER Players expected back for the start of training camp in six weeks wide receivers Jauan Jennings calf and Ricky Pearsall hamstring defensive linemen Mykel Williams hamstring Alfred Collins calf and Yetur Gross-Matos knee safeties J Ayir Brown ankle cleanup and George Odum knee and offensive tackle Andre Dillard ankle scope Jennings Pearsall and Williams were all seen doing individual conditioning on the side Williams this year s first-round draft pick worked one-on-one with head trainer Dustin Perry near the defensive line drills as was the event at last week s organized gang pursuits PRACTICE NOTES Purdy got intercepted by second-string cornerback Tre Brown in -on- action then by Dee Winters and Jason Pinnock in -on- work with Pinnock snagging a -yard bomb that Jacob Cowing failed to reach Jake Moody made -of- field-goal attempts missing from yards and making from as deep as while Shanahan general manager John Lynch and fellow kicker Greg Joseph watched about yards behind Moody Matt Hennessy got specific first-team reps at center in place of Jake Brendel Christian McCaffrey and Kyle Juszczyk scored touchdown runs and Purdy threw a scoring strike to Jordan Watkins in red-zone work Defensive tackle Jordan Elliott deflected a Purdy pass and nearly intercepted it Related Articles Nine dynamic duos to watch as ers enter mandatory minicamp ers relish Navy SEALs visit workout as they seek new bond this offseason Kurtenbach I see the vision for the ers much-maligned offensive line and it s just fine ers Mac Jones who played for Saban and Belichick turns to Kyle Shanahan for help ers OTA recap Nick Bosa embraces very different squad channels form