49ers vs. Seahawks: NFL insider suggests Trent Williams may miss Week 18

The San Francisco 49ers may be without left tackle Trent Williams—quarterback Brock Purdy's most trusted protector—when they face the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday night at Levi's Stadium. The Week 18 matchup will decide the NFC West champion and the NFC's No. 1 seed, giving the winner home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Williams exited Sunday night's 42-38 win over the Chicago Bears after suffering a hamstring injury on the first offensive snap. Head coach Kyle Shanahan offered little clarity postgame about the future Hall of Famer's availability.

"He tried to go (return to the game), and he couldn't," Shanahan said. "Trent told me he's never pulled a hamstring before, so I'm not really sure how it'll be."

On Monday, NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport weighed in on Good Morning Football, indicating that the 49ers could be without their Pro Bowl left tackle against Seattle.

"Trent Williams, the Pro Bowler, the left tackle for the San Francisco 49ers, one of the best in the NFL, still, and one of the best of the last decade, left with a hamstring injury," Rapoport said. "He hasn't really had very many hamstring injuries, if any at all, during his career, so it's hard to know how he's going to bounce back.

"Could have some tests today just to see how serious it is, but if you have a player, a great player, who's injured even a little bit, generally those guys do not play the last game of the season. I know it's a big one, [but the] playoffs are bigger. I wouldn't be surprised if we don't see him until the playoffs."

The 49ers faced the Bears without Williams for all but one play and may have to secure the NFC West crown and top seed without him as well.