Nick Williams, a former starting defensive lineman for the Detroit Lions, is joining his third team in three years. The 34-year-old has signed with the San Francisco 49ers, reuniting with ex-Lions teammate Tracy Walker in the Bay Area.
Williams joined the Lions as part of the final free-agent class under Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia, starting 30 games over two seasons with the team. However, since his departure, he has only made 13 starts in the past two years with the New York Giants and Los Angeles Chargers.
Williams had his best season in 2019 with the Chicago Bears, where he recorded six sacks in just five starts. He entered the NFL in 2013 as a seventh-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers from Samford and has also played for the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins over the past decade.
Meanwhile, the Lions have strengthened their interior defensive line with Alim McNeill, DJ Reader, Levi Onwuzurike, Brodric Martin, Kyle Peko, and several versatile players. McNeill is seen as a potential breakout star following a strong performance last season. Reader is among the NFL’s top nose tackles but has yet to practice with the Lions since his free-agent signing. Martin, a former third-round pick, continues to show growth as a formidable presence.
Onwuzurike has been praised for his performance during the offseason and training camp. The former second-round pick has returned to over 300 pounds and is looking and feeling more like himself.
Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn commented on Onwuzurike’s progress, saying, “The first thing I would say about that is those are the types of players we bring into the building, so it wasn’t a surprise that he continued to work like that. When you’re dealing with a back issue, you just don’t know how it will turn out. I’ve seen many teammates who struggled with back issues and couldn’t continue. But he kept pushing, and that’s exactly the kind of determination we value here.”
