Associated Press

The San Francisco 49ers will reportedly be without nose tackle Ian Williams for the entire 2016 season.

According to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com, the 49ers placed the Notre Dame product on the reserve/non-football injury (NFI) list on Saturday following offseason surgery on his injured ankle. Maiocco indicated the move was to create space on the roster for reinstated offensive lineman Anthony Davis.

Sam Robinson of Pro Football Rumors explained that this setback will likely impact Williams’ contract situation. He re-signed with San Francisco in March for a one-year deal, but that followed an agreed-upon five-year deal. However, his ankle injury “helped induce the amended commitment,” and this latest news “obviously clouds that future.”

Robinson said the ankle injury could “cost him millions” and possibly “send him back into the free-agent market on the heels of a lost season." He also clarified it still isn’t known how Williams even suffered the injury during the offseason.

Jeff Deeney of Pro Football Focus illustrated how effective Williams was last year, which underscores how significant of a blow this is for the 49ers up front:

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Last year was the first time in Williams’ career that he appeared in all 16 games during a season. He played only five combined contests in 2012 and 2013 before playing nine in 2014. Last year represented a breakthrough campaign, as he recorded 65 combined tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

He is a run-stuffer who helped plug the middle for the San Francisco front.

The defensive line still could be an area of strength for the 49ers this season if a couple of younger players fulfill their potential. Arik Armstead was a first-round pick in 2015 out of Oregon who played all 16 games in his rookie season, and the team selected DeForest Buckner with the seventh overall pick in this year’s draft. The two former Ducks will have to carry more of the load without Williams.

Elsewhere, Mike Purcell is looking for more consistency in his third season after appearing in 10 combined games in 2014 and 2015. He tallied 15 combined tackles last season but will likely be on the field for plenty of snaps in 2016 following Williams’ setback.