While the San Francisco 49ers have started their 2025 campaign with a 3-1 record, left tackle Trent Williams hasn’t exactly looked like himself.
From the season opener when Williams suffered an injury during the battle with the Seattle Seahawks, there have been a few moments where the four-time All-Pro and 11-time Pro Bowler has shown signs of his age or signs of wearing down.
Still, Los Angeles Rams edge rusher Jared Verse still has massive respect for Williams and his game, and he shared those feelings during his Tuesday media availability.
“I tell everybody the same thing. Trent’s one of the best linemen ever,” Verse said. “He’s a first ballot Hall of Famer for a reason. I think he’s been in the league longer than I’ve played football so he understands it, but I think the biggest challenge he adds is that with age you’ve become more savvy. He’s figured out, ‘Okay, I’m not even going to take this block head on. I’m going to manipulate it.’ He’s going to mess with you a little bit, just enough that it makes you not be able to make the play. But he’s also still that dominant version of Trent, where it’s like he can get right in front of you, he can eat power, he can stop you in the pass rush. He has a lot of things that you’ve got to focus on to be successful against him.”
In fact, Verse respects Williams so much that he’s afraid to use some of his patented trash talk.
“I don’t lie down for anybody,” Verse said. “I don’t change up who I am for anybody, but I’m also not dumb. I’d rather let a sleeping giant sleep. I’m not going to wake up anybody who’s minding their business. Especially somebody like that.”
Williams still has the combination of size, strength and technique to be a top left tackle in this league, and if he can help neutralize the duo of Verse and Byron Young, whoever is under center for San Francisco will have a much easier time running the offense.
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