SANTA CLARA – Seven-time Pro Bowl abandoned approach Trent Williams admits they are really looking forward to playing this summer in the preseason.
After sitting out the entire last season, he felt he was playing in some dress rehearsals, allowing him to lower his nerves for the opening of the regular season on Sept. 13 against the Arizona Cardinals.
Instead, Willamss is happy to rule her out for the next-best thing in training camp 49ers.
Defensive Nick Bosa has raved about the benefits of picking up a player from Williams’ unique mix of size, strength, agility and technique.
On Saturday, Williams hooked high praise on Bosa, the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Kidney, after the 49ers selected him last year with the No. 2 overall pick.
“Everyone treats the same thing,” Williams said, referring to the NFL’s cancellation of the preseason. “But luckily I have one of the best rushers in the league to face every day.”
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Bosa comes from a rookie season in which he recorded nine sacks. He added four more in three postseason games. Based on what he saw in the first week of practice in the 49ers’ training camp, Williams believes Bosa’s game will continue to increase.
“Nick, he’s better than I already thought he was, and I knew he was top three, four in the game,” Williams said. ‘But just by going against him every day, seeing how smart he is, seeing how hard he works, and seeing just how seriously he takes the game, I honestly see his trajectory as one of the best in the game.
“When all is said and done, when you say who’s the best pass-rusher, ran D-end, I think Nick Bosa is the first name that comes out of a lot of people’s mouths.”
[RELATED: 49ers’ Nick Bosa tells Jimmy Garoppolo that Trent Williams has his back]Williams said he could not have asked for a better situation before his return to action.
The 49ers bought Williams in a trade deal from Washington to replace Joe Staley, who decided to retire after 13 NFL seasons. Williams was drawn into Kyle Shanahan’s system, so it’s been a smooth transition to the 49’s playbook. And Bosa provides him with a daily challenge to help elevate his game to levels in the regular season.
“It’s a blessing for me because I can go against him every day,” Williams said. ‘We are able to talk and kind of run into each other through how we think. It was a great help to me, and I could not have even planned a better camp, just to learn and rest. ”
