Trent Williams picked as one of the NFL’s top comeback candidates

San Francisco 49ers left tackle Trent Williams will be one of the many storylines to follow this upcoming season. Not only is he replacing a franchise legend in Joe Staley, but Williams missed all of 2019. When Williams has been on the field, he’s been dominant. NFL.com’s Gil Brandt identified 12 players returning from a significant absence in 2019 who are primed to make the biggest impact in 2020. Williams was No. 6 on the list:

It’s a shame that the Redskins tenure of a tackle whose career may ultimately garner Hall of Fame consideration ended in acrimony. On the bright side, Williams has the best chance in his 11 NFL seasons to win a Super Bowl ring now that he’s part of the 49ers. Kudos to the San Francisco front office for swinging the deal that brought the 31-year-old seven-time Pro Bowl selection to town after Joe Staley told the team he was retiring. Bonus points for the Niners’ confidence in being able to get a trade done on Day 3 of the 2020 NFL Draft, which allowed them to use the 14th overall pick on Javon Kinlaw to replace DeForest Buckner rather than feeling compelled to address the left tackle spot.

Because this is the best team Williams will have played on, it’s tough to imagine he won’t be more motivated than ever. A year off from football may lead to some rust, but it also could serve as a blessing in disguise to keep Williams healthy for the duration of the 2020 season.

How many games do you expect Williams to play in 2020?