NY Jets might face a 49ers team without their best player in Week 1

As the NY Jets continue to deal with Haason Reddick's ongoing holdout, their Week 1 opponent, the San Francisco 49ers, are dealing with a contract dispute of their own centered around star left tackle Trent Williams.

Williams did not report to training camp last month and has not been seen at the team's facility all summer. The 11-time Pro Bowler is seeking a new contract that would once again make him the highest-paid tackle in the NFL.

While star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has garnered most of the attention this offseason, Williams' holdout has the potential to be even more disastrous for the 49ers. Reports suggest he's willing to miss regular-season games, too.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported on Monday that Williams is willing to extend his holdout into the regular season if he doesn't receive a new contract before Week 1. It sounds like the All-Pro left tackle is ready to play hardball and force the 49ers' hand.

"[Williams] is not going to be available until he gets his contract adjusted. He's trying to stay away from the team [and] is not overly stressed to have to be out there right now."

- Jeremy Fowler

The NY Jets might face a Trent Williams-less 49ers team in Week 1

The Jets are gearing up for a highly-anticipated Monday Night Football showdown with Williams and the 49ers in Week 1. If Williams were to miss that game, that could prove to be devastating for San Francisco.

The 49ers are just 3-6 without Williams since he joined the team in 2020 and they went 0-2 without him last year. Brock Purdy threw two interceptions in each game without Williams in 2023.

While you could argue players like Christian McCaffrey, Nick Bosa, and Fred Warner deserve the title of "best player on the 49ers," perhaps no player is more integral to their success than Williams.

Williams has been named the first-team All-Pro left tackle in each of the last three seasons. He was ranked as the No. 3 best player in the entire NFL, behind only Patrick Mahomes and Myles Garrett, in Pro Football Focus's top-50 player list last month.

If Williams were to miss Week 1, the 49ers would likely start former fifth-round pick Jaylon Moore in his place at left tackle. Moore has just seven starts under his belt in three years and could struggle against the likes of Jermaine Johnson, Will McDonald, and ideally Haason Reddick.

Williams presents a unique and complex situation to the 49ers. At 36 years old and with his career earnings, Williams isn't particularly concerned about missing a few game checks. He also knows that he will get paid eventually.

It's a vastly different situation to the one with Reddick and the Jets. Reddick doesn't really have any leverage in his contract talks — Williams does. Reddick's threat to potentially hold out into the regular season rings hollow while Williams's threat feels legitimate.

This is absolutely a situation worth monitoring for Jets fans. The Jets could play a shorthanded 49ers team on the road in their regular season opener.

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