Source: 49ers signing veteran D-lineman with Davis ready for surgery

Source: 49ers signing veteran D-lineman with Davis ready for surgery originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area

The 49ers are adding another piece to their defensive line by continue to battle injuries.

San Francisco is signing defensive tackle Nick Williamsa source confirmed to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Jennifer Lee Chan on Tuesday night – a likely replacement for Kalia Davis, who will undergo knee surgery Thursday and is expected to miss half of the 2024 NFL regular season.

Former NFL quarterback and media personality Chase Daniel was the first to report that San Francisco is signing Williams, noting that he will join the team on a one-year contract.

Williams, a seventh-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, is entering his 12th professional season after spending time with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, New York Giants and, most recently, Los Angeles. Angeles chargers in 2023.

The 34-year-old played 14 games with the Chargers last season and started six of them, recording a sack and two fumble recoveries, as well as 32 tackles – 16 solo and seven for loss.

Williams celebrated the news with a social media post on Tuesday — and certainly seems excited to join the 49ers.

Williams will reunite with his former Chargers coach Brandon Staley, who now serves as an assistant on 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan’s staff. Staley and Williams also spent time together in Chicago, where the defensive guru was outside linebackers coach from 2017-18.

Meanwhile, Davis played 30 snaps in 49ers preseason opener and was on track to earn a roster spot, but the morning after San Francisco’s loss at Tennessee, he was discovered to have structural damage behind his kneecap.

“I thought it was one of his best games,” Shanahan said Monday of Davis. “It was really unfortunate. He played very well throughout the game. That’s why he and we were really surprised that he suffered such a serious injury.

“It’s a setback, but he had such a good camp, such a good game, that he’s in a good position to bounce back.”

The 49ers are likely to move Davis forward the initial list of 53 players then place him on injured reserve, allowing him to return to the team at the end of the season.

San Francisco’s newest addition, Williams, will have a chance to prove himself on his new team in Week 2 of the preseason when the 49ers take on the New Orleans Saints on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium.

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