Trent Williams has looked as good as advertised during training camp, handling pass rushers with ease and proving to be a capable anchor along the offensive line.

Not that any of that should come as a surprise. Still, there may be some who didn't familiarize themselves with the veteran offensive tackle during his time in Washington.

At 6-foot-5 and nearly 320 pounds, you wouldn't expect Williams to show off a ton of athleticism. If you did follow him throughout his career, you know the seven-time Pro Bowler is among the most athletic big men in the league.

At least one San Francisco 49ers running back won't argue against that claim.


"Trent is definitely one of the most athletic O-linemen I've ever seen," Raheem Mostert told reporters via Zoom on Thursday. "Just the way he moves out there. He gets to his blocks quick, and he makes our decisions, cutting and stuff like that, easier. Like I said, it's truly a blessing having him out there."

Williams should have fresh legs when he steps out onto the football field come Week 1. He has not played in nearly two years. The offensive tackle missed all of last season before a draft trade in April sent him from Washington to San Francisco.

"Having football back in my life is reinvigorating," Williams said nearly a week ago. "... Coming out here with a team where we're all like-minded, we're all pros, everybody working their tail off day in and day out, it demands me to be a better player. I feel the pressure to be that Trent Williams of old, where I can step in and help this team."

Mostert has been impressed with Williams' ability to step in with a new team and continue right where he left off. Williams will tell you that he still has some rust to knock off. That's difficult to see when you watch him hold his own against defenders on the practice field.

Said All-Pro tight end George Kittle earlier this week: "I don't have to play very well, and when we play next to each other, it's still going to look really good. That's pretty fun to see."


That will benefit a player like Mostert, who also looks to continue where he left off. The running back contributed to the No. 2 rushing attack in the league and stepped into the spotlight with a 220 rushing-yard and four-touchdown performance against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game.

"He's definitely a guy that just comes in, and he knows his role, and he's trying to perfect his craft," Mostert said of Williams. "And that's what you need when it comes to this offense and in general in football. Like I said, I love seeing him go out there and move the way he does because you don't really see that from other O-linemen in the league. He's definitely one of a kind."

What has Williams thought about the rigors of training camp after so much time off?

"I've had a lot of time off, so hard work is definitely what I need," Williams responded. "... The hard work is something that I welcome, and something that I feel that's necessary for me to become the player I need to be."
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