The San Francisco 49ers have some work to do on their roster this offseason to return to Super Bowl contention.

That work would get significantly more difficult if 36-year-old All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams opted to hang up his pads and retire after an injury-plagued 14th NFL season. Alas, Williams is committed to returning to San Francisco according to general manager John Lynch.

Lynch on Wednesday in a press conference told reporters Williams is recovering well from the ankle injury that limited him to only 10 games this season, and that the team fully expects their superstar left tackle to be back for the 2025 campaign.

“Trent’s doing well,” said Lynch. “He had a bruise in the ankle joint and it probably took a little longer than anyone anticipated, but sometimes that happens. And the good news is, it’s taken a positive turn. Trent’s mindset is where it always is and he’s still very interested in being a great player that he is. And I think he’s still got a lot left in the tank. So, Trent’s committed as ever and we love having Trent Williams a part of us.”

Williams returning for at least 2025 changes the way the 49ers can attack their offseason. If he wasn’t going to return, they may turn all their resources toward finding his long-term replacement to protect quarterback Brock Purdy’s blind side.

By getting an All-Pro back, not only do the 49ers retain one of the NFL’s best offensive linemen, they can also focus their offseason energy on supplementing their offensive line and bolstering other areas of their roster instead of trying to replace a future Hall of Famer.