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Reports suggest San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Ian Williams might not be available to start the 2016 regular season. So how will the Niners’ defensive line look if the team is forced to make adjustments?

A San Francisco 49ers team already laden with questions, ahead of the 2016 NFL regular season, has one more to address as training camp draws near.

Earlier this week, ESPN’s Michael Wagaman reported the 49ers could be without veteran defensive tackle Ian Williams (ankle) to start the upcoming year.

Wagaman hints at Williams missing only the Niners’ Week 1 contest versus the Los Angeles Rams, so it’s a good thing the veteran nose tackle isn’t projected, currently, to be out much longer than that.

This isn’t exactly breaking news though.

Williams played in all 16 regular-season games for the 49ers a year ago — the first time in his five-year career — although injuries have been a major problem for the 26-year-old defender.

San Francisco will be losing some pretty hefty production for at least the first week. Williams was actually the Niners’ best-graded defender last season, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), with a plus-24.4 overall mark.

So, with Williams possibly out for Week 1 and maybe longer, how will the 49ers go about comprising their defensive line?

Second-year defensive end Arik Armstead probably ends up getting the start on one side. He had a plus-15.1 PFF grade a year ago, and there’s a better-than-good chance he’ll wind up in an increased role this season.

It’s also hard to consider removing defensive tackle Quinton Dial from the equation.

Dial has the flexibility to occupy either end position as well as the nose, so he’d appear to be a shoo-in candidate to slip right into Williams’ stead. Whether or not this happens is largely based on what the team elects to do with rookie defensive end DeForest Buckner.

Buckner, San Francisco’s first-overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, may not start right away. Yet he’s largely expected to see a good share of snaps in pass-rushing situations.

But Williams’ injury opens up the door for Buckner to assume a full-time role on the defensive line.

From left to right, here’s what the 49ers D-line would look like if this happens:

LDE — Arik Armstead

DT — Quinton Dial

RDE — DeForest Buckner

Defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil has stressed the desire to get the 11-best 49ers defenders on the field as much as possible. So that may negate the following possibility — one which would include depth nose tackle Mike Purcell in the equation.

Purcell flashed some promise during the preseason a year ago and managed to get into eight regular-season games, starting three of them.

If the 49ers elect to keep Buckner in a rotational role — or have Dial do the same — Purcell might wind up getting some starts.

It’s hard to say at this point, and preseason games will go a long way in determining how this unit is shaping up.

San Francisco’s D-line depth is being tested early though, and it’s a good thing the 49ers still have some promising young pieces with which to work.

But Williams can’t come back soon enough.

Next: Ian Williams Likely Out Week 1 for 49ers

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com and Sports-Reference.com unless otherwise indicated.