It’s a popular proclamation in training camp from any team that considers itself a contender.
Not so with 49ers’ tackle Trent Williams.
Call it common sense or a veteran’s perspective, but Williams doesn’t feel the need to be talking about a game on Feb. 8 at Levi’s Stadium with the Seattle Seahawks on the horizon on Sept. 7 and the start of the regular season.
“I don’t really approach it like that,” the 11-time Pro Bowler said Thursday. “We’ve got our own set of challenges. I don’t look at it as being anything or bust. We want to be successful, we have the talent to be successful, and there’s no greater motivator than the Super Bowl being right here in your backyard.
“This team, for us to maximize our potential, we’ve got to focus on one week at a time. The Super Bowl shouldn’t be on the forefront of anybody’s mind. It should be having the best regular season we can possibly have, getting to a playoff game, and then going from there.”
Williams, 37, practiced all three days this week in the heat and has taken a lot of training camp reps — especially of late. And Williams has the kind of influence where all he has to do is say the word, and he can be a spectator instead of a participant.
Last season, Williams missed all of training camp awaiting a contract extension. The fact that he stepped in and started the season anyway, Williams feels, is a testament to his 14 years of experience. He wouldn’t want to do it again.
“I’m one of those guys that likes to work,” Williams said. “I like to be coached. I wouldn’t recommend missing training camp. You need it. It’s the only buffer you’ve got before the regular season.”
As for the myriad 49ers injuries, Williams isn’t spending a lot of time worrying about them because none of them have been season-ending, and most players are expected back either for Week 1 in Seattle or not long afterward.
“It takes a toll when you hear a guy’s out for the year,” Williams said. “But the little dings and stuff like that, you want guys to take a little time off. You want everyone to come in as healthy as possible.”
Williams, limited to 10 games last season with an ankle/heel injury, hasn’t been the only veteran who has ramped up his snap count on recent days. Running back Christian McCaffrey looked at his rushing/receiving best on Thursday and had a big day on Wednesday as well.
“Y’all got eyes like I do,” Williams said. “Christian looks fantastic. He looks like Offensive Player of the Year Christian. To see him out there, a hundred percent healthy, treating every play like it’s his last, it really motivates the guys when you’ve got a generational talent that brings it to work and practice every day.”
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