Rams' Kyren Williams Got Punched in the Facemask Before Key Fumble vs. 49ers

Game-changing play prevented a late go-ahead touchdown.

Rams' Kyren Williams had a pivotal fumble in a Thursday night loss to the 49ers. | TNF on Prime Video

Kyren Williams and the Los Angeles Rams suffered a painful overtime loss at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday Night Football and two plays involving the running back proved the most crucial. Williams was stuffed on a short-yardage fourth down attempt to end the game—a call Sean McVay will see in his nightmares. This came after the running back fumbled what looked to be a go-ahead touchdown with 1:07 left in regulation.

Collins did it on his own 😤

📺: @NFLonPrime
NFL+ // https://t.co/KTh0i4oaLh pic.twitter.com/3alJMEKus0

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 3, 2025

On that turnover, the ball was jarred loose and then recovered by 49ers defensive tackle Alfred Collins who cleverly punched it free with a desperate swipe. But Collins' big paw did not make first contact with the football. The first thing it hit was Williams' facemask.

SHOULD THIS HAVE BEEN A PENALTY ON THE #49ERS FOR PUNCHING KYREN WILLIAMS IN THE HELMET ON THE FUMBLE…?

🧐🧐🧐pic.twitter.com/swmByBNSrx

— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) October 3, 2025

Defensive players have been using versions of the ball-punching technique ever since Peanut Tillman put it on the map. It's grown in popularity as a tactic and has an obvious reward to go against the risk. Yet it's unusual to see what is essentially someone socking a ball-carrier in the facemask parlay that move to hero status.

Williams was quick to put the blame on himself after the game.

Kyren Williams: "I feel like I let the team down on the one-yard line. Not securing the one thing that matters and scoring a touchdown. For me, I put this all on me, honestly."

— Adam Grosbard (@AdamGrosbard) October 3, 2025

He'll likely have his head on a swivel out there from now on but in this case it would have just resulted in a more direct hit.

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