This offseason has been a rollercoaster for Niners fans, but everything has been on the upswing over the past couple of days.
Not only did San Fran lock in Brandon Aiyuk to a four-year extension last week, but they also were able to get Trent Williams back in the fold on Tuesday with a reworked contract for the next three seasons.
Money was certainly the main driving factor for Williams, but he revealed that Ricky Pearsall getting shot was also a big reason why he wanted to wrap up his contract talks before the season officially started.
And that very well could be the case. ESPN reported just last week that Williams was willing to continue his holdout into the regular season.
“I’ve never experienced that, like in my playing career, to have a teammate, you know, shot, so to speak,” Williams said to reporters Tuesday afternoon. “So, in my mind, I’m like, ‘Man, I just wanna get back and get around the team.’”
Pearsall’s shooting was awful news at the time, but it’s already starting to look like this could be a galvanizing moment for the team.
“I just instantly felt this vibe and you can feel that he’s such a genuine person,” Williams said of meeting Pearsall during OTAs. “So as soon as I see that happened, I’m like, ‘Man, I just want to get back. I just want to be a voice in his ear and let him know that everything is going to be alright.’”
With Pearsall now released from the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery, there’s no doubt that his return to team facilities will be something the Niners can rally around.
And when you consider that Brock Purdy turns into a pumpkin without Williams protecting him, this week could wind up being what saves San Francisco’s season.
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