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Talanoa Hufanga

49ers Want To Re-Sign S Talanoa Hufanga, LB Dre Greenlaw

December 20th, 2024 at 12:44pm CST by Sam Robinson

As injuries have harpooned a 49ers NFC title defense for the second time in five years, the team’s offseason becomes more relevant. The 49ers extended Deommodore Lenoir earlier this season but still has several starters moving toward free agency.

The Lenoir extension probably sends Charvarius Ward back to the market, but the 49ers are not closing the door on re-signing two other impending free agent defenders. The team is interested in retaining both Talanoa Hufanga and Dre Greenlaw. Kyle Shanahan confirmed as much.

[RELATED: Assessing Brock Purdy’s Extension Candidacy]

“Those are two of the better players I’ve been around and two of the better players on our team and two of the main reasons we’ve had the success we’ve had,” Shanahan said, via The Athletic’s Matt Barrows (subscription required) “So hopefully we can do everything we can to work out keeping them here because they’re as much of examples of 49ers as anyone I can think of.”

For what it’s worth, Shanahan offered a similar sentiment regarding Ward this summer. With Lenoir signed and Renardo Green on track for a bigger 2025 role, Ward is almost certainly heading elsewhere come March. The 49ers also have guard Aaron Banks set to hit the market. Barrows does not place a high likelihood on Banks being back, either, as the 49ers have not been big on guard payments under Shanahan; this year’s guard market also showed how high prices can rise for proven starters. As for Hufanga, Barrows views a return as being squarely on the radar.

The markets of both Hufanga and Greenlaw figure to be impacted by the injuries each has battled. Hufanga sustained an ACL tear in November 2023 and then missed much of this season due to a wrist issue, one that still has him in a cast. Greenlaw suffered one of the more untimely injuries in NFL history, at least as it pertained to his team’s championship chances, tearing an Achilles while trotting onto the field in Super Bowl LVIII. Both players are off IR now, however, and can boost their markets by playing well for a 6-8 team over the final three games.

A 2021 fifth-round pick, Hufanga impressed during a 2022 position battle to replace Jaquiski Tartt and earned first-team All-Pro acclaim months later. The 49ers showed how much they value Hufanga this season, redeploying him despite the cast. That said, Ji’Ayir Brown and fourth-round rookie Malik Mustapha have been the team’s primary safeties this season. Both are tied to rookie deals, each’s running beyond 2025. The 49ers want to keep Hufanga, but Barrows does not make it sound like they would compete with a booming market. Then again, beyond Xavier McKinney and Jessie Bates, safeties have not generated booming markets in recent offseasons. That would boost San Francisco’s retention chances.

San Francisco has run into a much more difficult time replacing Greenlaw. Its 2024 plan infamously combusted last week, with De’Vondre Campbell refusing to enter the Rams game and walking off the field. The 49ers have suspended the linebacker, whom John Lynch confronted during the strange sequence. The since-banned ‘backer had started to refuse to play during the second quarter, Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer notes, adding that Lynch then sent him to the locker room. Shanahan also said (via the San Francisco Chronicle’s Eric Branch) the team had one other linebacker — after Eric Kendricks, who backtracked on a 49ers pledge to join the Cowboys — ahead of Campbell in their free agency pecking order.

Campbell, however, became the pick and proved a downgrade on Greenlaw. The latter has been Fred Warner‘s primary sidekick since his 2019 rookie season. While Greenlaw accepted a two-year, $16MM extension in 2022, he is likely to finish this season unsigned. We mentioned recently a deal in the ballpark of ex-teammate Azeez Al-Shaair (three years, $34MM) could be in play should Greenlaw stay healthy to close out the year; Barrows also mentioned that as a comp. Greenlaw and Al-Shaair are each 27, though the 49ers consistently played Greenlaw in front of the now-Texans linebacker.

The 49ers’ plans to pay Brock Purdy the quarterback going rate will complicate their free agency strategy as well. That will make the Greenlaw and Hufanga markets more interesting. A potential either/or situation may form with this duo, but it does appear clear the 49ers are not planning to let either walk without negotiations commencing first.

49ers Activate S Talanoa Hufanga

December 7th, 2024 at 4:19pm CST by Ely Allen

The 49ers have been bombarded with injuries this year, but today they’ll get a bit of relief. San Francisco has officially made the move to activate safety Talanoa Hufanga from injured reserve. After attempting to make a comeback earlier this year, the hope is that, this time, Hufanga will be healthy enough and here to stay.

Hufanga’s initial return was from a torn ACL that he suffered just over a year ago. The team activated him from the active/PUP list just prior to the start of the regular season to ensure that he wouldn’t miss the first four games of the year. A limited runup to the season meant a limited snap share when he finally did return to the lineup, though, and after missing the first two games of the season, Hufanga made his official return in Week 3.

Hufanga missed a game after his 2024 debut before getting his second start, but he left that second game early and did not return. In the process of his comeback, Hufanga had suffered ligament damage in his wrist, necessitating an unfortunate return to IR. There was seemingly no guarantee that he would return this season, but the team ended up opening his practice window earlier this week. Hufanga, who is in a contract year, will not be 100 percent in his return as he still needs support for his injured wrist. With a potential free agency run coming, though, Hufanga will attempt to give it a go.

In order to make room on the 53-man roster for Hufanga, the Niners officially made the move to place running back Jordan Mason on IR. Joining Mason on IR will be backup safety George Odum, who has missed the past week of practice dealing with a knee issue that will seemingly end his season.

With an additional roster spot being made available, San Francisco will sign practice squad offensive tackle Sebastian Gutierrez to the active roster. Signed to the practice squad last week after some time in Indianapolis, Gutierrez was elevated for last weekend’s contest but hasn’t appeared in a game since 2022.

Joining Gutierrez for gameday from the practice squad will be linebacker Jalen Graham and running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn. As standard practice squad elevations, Graham and Vaughn will revert to the practice squad after the game, while Gutierrez will remain on the 53-man roster.

49ers To Open S Talanoa Hufanga’s Practice Window, Place RB Jordan Mason On IR

December 2nd, 2024 at 3:49pm CST by Sam Robinson

As injuries once again define a 49ers NFC title defense, the team still has some silver linings in the form of defenders reentering the equation. Talanoa Hufanga is on his way back.

Down with a wrist injury for months, Hufanga is set to practice this week, Kyle Shanahan said. After rehabbing the ACL tear sustained on Thanksgiving night last year, Hufanga suffered a significant wrist malady that limited him to just two games thus far this season. The 49ers, however, had not ruled him out. Now in the IR-return window, the All-Pro safety has three weeks to return.

With Hufanga joining Dre Greenlaw in a return window from an injured list, Jordan Mason is heading to IR. The Christian McCaffrey backup suffered a high ankle sprain Sunday night, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. The 49ers lost McCaffrey to another injury — a PCL issue — that is expected to shut him down. Mason is now out until at least Week 18, leaving rookie Isaac Guerendo as the 49ers’ lead back for the foreseeable future.

Hufanga, who is in a contract year, will not be 100% if he returns to action. Shanahan said (via the Bay Area News Group’s Cam Inman) the standout DB still needs support for his injured wrist. With a potential free agency run coming, Hufanga will attempt to give it a go. Counting last season’s three playoff games, the former fifth-round pick has missed 20 of the 49ers’ past 22 contests.

Conflicting reports emerged earlier this season about whether Hufanga would return. An October offering suggested the 49ers were not counting on him to return, but the team had not ruled it out. San Francisco will at least see how he looks in practice. The injuries to Hufanga and Greenlaw played a key role in the 49ers falling just short in an overtime Super Bowl loss last season; for the first time since Hufanga’s November 2023 ACL injury, both will be back at work. Though, this comes at a dire point for a team in one of the worst Super Bowl hangovers in recent memory. A three-game losing streak has dropped the 49ers to 5-7.

The 49ers already played without All-Pros Nick Bosa, Trent Williams and Brandon Aiyuk on Sunday night. All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner, who is playing through an ankle fracture, left the game as well. Recently extended cornerback starter Deommodore Lenoir missed Week 13, while Brock Purdy returned after missing Week 12 due to injury. McCaffrey joins Mason in heading to IR, and Shanahan said defensive tackle Kevin Givens suffered a pectoral tear and will join the RBs on the injured list.

Beating out Elijah Mitchell for the backup running back job, Mason became a vital piece for the 49ers during McCaffrey’s Achilles rehab. The former UDFA held the NFL rushing lead for a short span this season, producing three 100-yard games over his first four. He paces the 49ers with 789 rushing yards and three TDs. Mason can be retained beyond this season, as the Georgia Tech alum is eligible for restricted free agency next year. Mitchell is on season-ending IR.

He of a sub-4.4-second 40-yard dash at this year’s Combine, Guerendo has shown flashes as a Mason backup. The third-round pick is the only healthy back on San Francisco’s 53-man roster right now, a situation that will see changes made soon. Patrick Taylor is the only RB on the team’s practice squad.

Givens has been with the 49ers for six seasons, working as a rotational player for most of that time. He has a career-high 3.5 sacks this season but will join DT Javon Hargrave among the expanding 49ers’ IR contingent. Playing out a $2MM deal, Givens is among the many 49ers defenders headed toward free agency.

NFL Injury Updates: Jets, Hufanga, Dennis

October 27th, 2024 at 2:16pm CST by Ely Allen

The Jets provided an unfortunate update on Friday, with Connor Hughes of SportsNet New York reporting that starting guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, starting safety Ashtyn Davis, and defensive tackle Leki Fotu would all be out for today’s matchup with the Patriots. To make matters worse, interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich has claimed that all three players are candidates for injured reserve.

All three players were unable to participate in practice this week. The claim makes sense for Vera-Tucker and Fotu, who are dealing with ankle and knee injuries, respectively. The claim is a little more concerning for Davis, who has been on the injury report with a designated concussion. We’ve seen players come back from the NFL’s concussion protocol within a week, so the idea that Davis could miss four weeks because of a head injury could be alarming.

Here are a few other injury updates from around the NFL:

  • It’s been a rough go lately for 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga. A year after earning first-team All-Pro honors, Hufanga suffered a season-ending ACL tear that cost him the final seven games of the year, not to mention San Francisco’s three playoff games en route to a close Super Bowl loss. He worked hard to be ready for the start of the 2024 season but was unable to make an appearance until Week 3. He was inactive in Week 4 before making his second start in Week 5 against the Cardinals, getting knocked out after only 11 defensive snaps with a wrist injury. According to ESPN’s Nick Wagoner, head coach Kyle Shanahan reported that it’s not guaranteed that Hufanga returns this year. Shanahan was quoted saying “it’s something (they’re) hoping happens” and that they’re “kind of expecting it to” happen, but “it’s not a sure thing.”
  • Buccaneers linebacker SirVocea Dennis has been on IR for the last three weeks with a shoulder injury, meaning that he’ll be eligible to return from IR after one more game. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like that’s going to be the case for the second-year defender. According to Greg Auman of FOX Sports, Dennis is unlikely to return this season. Per head coach Todd Bowles, if Dennis were to appear on the field again in Tampa Bay’s 2024 campaign, it would require a deep playoff run.

NFC West Notes: Seahawks, Hufanga, Rams

October 10th, 2024 at 1:36pm CST by Sam Robinson

Left in charge after the Seahawks jettisoned their other football operations pillar, John Schneider‘s search for Pete Carroll‘s successor started earlier. The 14-year Seattle HC’s age (72 as of Week 18 last season) moved Schneider to do some early work on candidates, per ESPN.com’s Brady Henderson, leading the team to 36-year-old Mike Macdonald.

While the Carroll-for-Macdonald change — or a move to a much younger candidate — was eventually expected, the decision from Seahawks ownership gave Schneider full autonomy for the first time. Previously riding shotgun to Carroll in terms of final roster say, Schneider’s takeover of sorts came after the aging HC had discussed ceding that power to the GM in recent years, Henderson adds. A January report also pointed to Carroll considering retirement around midseason only to reverse course; Seahawks ownership’s decision cemented the change to a Schneider-run operation. Although Carroll and Schneider rarely disagreed to the point the coach had to wield his decision-making hammer, it will be interesting to gauge the Seahawks’ direction with the longtime GM calling all the shots.

Carroll is technically a Seahawks advisor following his coaching stay, though the former Jets and Patriots HC wanted to coach again. He lobbied to keep the Seattle gig. But Carroll has kept his distance from the facility, with Henderson adding the departed coach wants to give Macdonald’s regime space. Carroll had indeed planned to serve in his advisory role, but he has stepped back in the months since. Carroll, now 73, is no longer eyeing another coaching job.

Here is the latest from the NFC West:

  • Both Carroll and Macdonald signed off on a Jason Peters addition. The now-42-year-old tackle played sparingly for the Seahawks last season, coming in to help a team that missed RT Abraham Lucas for much of the season. With that again the case and George Fant‘s second Seattle stint on hold, the Seahawks again summoned Peters to the practice squad. Close to becoming the first O-lineman to be on an active roster in a 21st NFL season, Peters said he did not expect to play again. Staying in contact with Schneider helped the All-Decade blocker’s cause, Henderson adds, and he could be on the cusp of being elevated to the Hawks’ gameday roster again.
  • Tre’Davious White is still on the Rams‘ 53-man roster, but the team deemed the eighth-year veteran a healthy scratch in Week 5. Classifying this as a coach’s decision, Sean McVay demoted the free agency acquisition from starter to out of the mix entirely, via The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue. This is an interesting decision, even with the Rams activating Darious Williams from IR and turning to the recently re-signed Ahkello Witherspoon as a starter (alongside Cobie Durant) for the first time this season. Despite his injury trouble during the final years of his Bills tenure, White played 98% of Los Angeles’ defensive snaps during the team’s first four games. Pro Football Focus rated White as the NFL’s seventh-worst corner this season, and the former Buffalo extension recipient has already been charged with allowing four touchdown receptions and a 138.4 passer rating as the closest defender this season. White, 29, is on a one-year, $4.25MM deal.
  • Talanoa Hufanga is back on IR, having suffered a wrist injury shortly after his ACL rehab odyssey concluded. Injuries are slowing the All-Pro safety, but ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano still views him as being on the 49ers’ extension radar. Hufanga joins cornerbacks Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir on San Francisco’s extension radar. The team may be readier to commit to Lenoir compared to Ward, who is three years younger (at 25), but Hufanga being on the team’s re-up radar is interesting. The former fifth-round pick rocketed onto the All-Pro tier in 2022 and would make sense as an extension candidate, but the 49ers paid Brandon Aiyuk this offseason and have a Brock Purdy extension on the horizon. Choices will need to be made on a defense that also houses Dre Greenlaw in a contract year.

49ers Place S Talanoa Hufanga On IR; K Jake Moody An IR Candidate

October 9th, 2024 at 3:43pm CST by Adam La Rose

OCTOBER 9: The 49ers are following through with an IR move for one of these regulars. Hufanga is heading back to IR, the team announced. Finishing last season sidelined due to an ACL tear, Hufanga is expected back this season. But the All-Pro safety will be shut down for at least four games. The 49ers signed tight end Brayden Willis from their practice squad to take Hufanga’s roster spot.

OCTOBER 8: Talanoa Hufanga has managed to make a pair of appearances this season for the 49ers, but his next game action will come after a notable absence. The All-Pro safety is dealing with ligament damage in his wrist, head coach Kyle Shanahan said on Tuesday.

[RELATED: 49ers Place Yetur Gross-Matos On IR]

As a result, Hufanga is facing an absence of roughly one month. A stint on injured reserve would ensure at least a four-game absence, making that a consideration in this case. Shanahan added (via Matt Barrows of The Athletic) the team has yet to decide if an IR stint will be in store.

In either case, today’s news is unwelcomed given Hufanga’s importance to the 49ers’ secondary and his missed time from last year. The 25-year-old suffered a torn ACL in November, limiting him to 10 regular season games and sidelining him for San Francisco’s run to the Super Bowl. Hufanga was activated from the PUP list at the end of the summer, though, making him eligible to play within the first four weeks of the campaign upon returning to practice.

The former fifth-rounder made his season debut in Week 3 before missing the following contest. Hufanga then suffered his latest injury early in Sunday’s loss to the Cardinals, a game which dropped the 49ers’ record to 2-3. Rebounding from that poor start will be challenging as the team deals with several key absences on defense.

In other injury news, kicker Jake Moody – who is dealing with a high ankle sprain – is facing a similar recovery timeline, per Shanahan. He too could land on IR, something which would result in an extended audition period for the team’s new kicker. Matthew Wright is now in place as Moody’s replacement, having agreed to a practice squad deal earlier today.

The 49ers designated defensive tackle ​Kalia Davis for return from IR before the roster cutdown deadline. That move used one of their eight activations for the year (although Davis has not yet been brought back into the fold), with running back Christian McCaffrey, cornerback Ambry Thomas and Jon Feliciano all still on injured reserve. First-round rookie wideout Ricky Pearsall remains on the reserve/NFI list for now; all four members of that group will use up an activation once they are healthy. The 49ers must therefore be careful with IR designations moving forward, but one or both of Hufanga and Moody could be shelved for four games soon.

49ers’ Talanoa Hufanga Returns To Practice

September 1st, 2024 at 10:10am CST by Rory Parks

49ers fans received some good news during final roster cutdowns this week, as the club elected to activate safety Talanoa Hufanga from the PUP list. The even better news is that Hufanga has returned to practice, as David Lombardi of The Athletic writes (subscription required).

Hufanga suffered a torn ACL in November, and if he had not been activated, he would have begun the season on the reserve/PUP list and would have therefore been forced to miss at least the first four weeks of the campaign. He was indeed mentioned as a candidate for the reserve/PUP list, but San Francisco saw enough progress to believe that he could be ready for game action sooner rather than later.

Lombardi cautions that Hufanga’s return to the practice field does not necessarily mean that the 2022 First Team All-Pro will see a full snap share right away. After all, he only participated in individual drills during his first two practice sessions, with the team hoping to ramp up his activities this week.

Plus, the Niners gave themselves a little protection on the back end of their defense by adding veteran Tracy Walker to the taxi squad after finalizing their 53-man roster. Walker signed with the club early last month, was released during final cuts, and was brought back to the p-squad shortly thereafter with the goal of elevating him for the Week 1 contest against the Jets (thereby suggesting that San Francisco will need an extra safety at least for that game).

Per Lombardi, Walker will not start even if Hufanga is unavailable for the season opener, with rookie fourth-rounder Malik Mustapha and veteran George Odum likely to see more reps. While Mustapha has built some momentum for himself, all of those players are presently placeholders for Hufanga, who is entering a contract year and who could set himself up for a lucrative payday if he is fully healthy and can continue performing as he did in 2022 and prior to his injury in 2023.

“He’s really worked his butt off,” defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen said of Hufanga. “Hearing how he’s gone through this process, I’m not surprised just because of who he is. I think everybody involved with it — but him primarily — the way that he worked to get back to this, it’s exciting and really happy for him.”

As Lombardi notes, the 49ers also welcomed new acquisition Isaac Yiadom back to practice. Yiadom, who figures to see plenty of reps at cornerback this year, had been battling an ankle injury throughout the second half of training camp.

49ers Activate Talanoa Hufanga, Move Roster To 53

August 27th, 2024 at 4:29pm CST by Sam Robinson

Two 49ers remain out out of the mix (but definitely not out of headlines, in Brandon Aiyuk‘s case), though both standouts are still employed by the team. Though, Trent Williams remains on the reserve/did not report list. Here is how the defending NFC champs pared their roster to 53 by today’s deadline:

Released:

Waived:

Activated from active/PUP list:

Placed on IR:

Placed on IR (return designation):

Placed on reserve/PUP list:

Hufanga’s status represents a positive development for a 49ers team in need of them. The All-Pro safety had been rumored to join Greenlaw on the reserve/PUP list. Avoiding it does not guarantee Hufanga will be ready for Week 1, but it keeps the fourth-year defender in the equation for the 49ers’ first four games. They are choosing to carry Hufanga on the 53-man roster and go week-to-week with him. This undoubtedly led to Walker being moved off the roster.

Conversely, Mitchell’s time with the team may be over. San Francisco surprised most by vaulting the 2021 sixth-round pick into a starting role to open that season, dropping Trey Sermon to a backup spot. Mitchell operated as San Francisco’s preferred starter — as long as he was healthy, which was sporadic — until the October 2022 Christian McCaffrey trade. The 49ers now have Jordan Mason and rookie Isaac Guerendo as CMC backups.

A hamstring injury has sidelined Mitchell, potentially opening the door to an injury settlement. Davis will be able to return this season for the 49ers; Mitchell’s designation would prevent that. The 49ers are down to seven IR activations as a result of the Davis decision. A 2022 sixth-round pick, Davis remains in the team’s plans despite injuries largely keeping him out of action. Davis has played just three NFL games, and he suffered another injury — a knee issue requiring surgery — during camp.

The 49ers, who will bring many of these players back to the practice squad, cut two recent third-round picks — Gray and Latu. The latter has not played yet as a pro, missing his entire rookie season with an ACL tear. Gray has been unable to carve out a role on a 49ers team that has seen Jauan Jennings stick as the team’s WR3; rookies Ricky Pearsall and Jacob Cowing are also in the mix now.

Reserve/PUP List In Play For 49ers S Talanoa Hufanga

August 21st, 2024 at 9:59am CST by Sam Robinson

Two of the injuries the 49ers battled late last season are expected to linger into the upcoming campaign. The 49ers are prepared to stash Dre Greenlaw on their reserve/PUP list; that may be where Talanoa Hufanga starts his season.

Previously mentioned as in play to miss Week 1, Hufanga is now being connected to being kept on the PUP list to start the season. He went down with an ACL tear during the 49ers’ Thanksgiving matchup against the Seahawks. Kyle Shanahan confirmed (via the San Francisco Chronicle’s Eric Branch) that discussions have taken place regarding whether the All-Pro safety will need the four-game hiatus before returning.

Greenlaw and Hufanga are on the 49ers’ active/PUP list presently. If moved to the reserve/PUP list once San Francisco sets its 53-man roster next week, both are out at least four games. Greenlaw, who sustained an Achilles tear while jogging onto the field during Super Bowl LVIII, has long been expected to start the season on the PUP list. The 49ers added De’Vondre Campbell as immediate insurance; they were not as active at safety. At least, not immediately.

The 49ers can also go week-to-week with Hufanga, should they view him as likely to be ready at some point in the first four games. Hufanga said earlier this summer he was targeting Week 1 and even a return during training camp; the former fifth-round pick looks likely to need more time. That said, Branch adds the fourth-year defender did recently receive clearance to participate in drills. He remains on a ramp-up schedule, though Shanahan hopes a return next week is in the cards. Hufanga returning next week would be a good sign for the 49ers, as he would no longer be eligible for an in-season PUP stint.

While another Tashaun Gipson pact surfaced as an option, the multiyear 49ers starter was hit with a six-game suspension recently. (Gipson has since joined the Jaguars.) That took him out of the picture for a 49ers squad expected to use Ji’Ayir Brown as a full-time player this season. San Francisco eventually signed former Detroit starter Tracy Walker, adding the offseason cap casualty midway through training camp. The 49ers also roster special-teamer George Odum and used a fourth-round pick on safety Malik Mustapha. Odum has made 10 career starts; none have come during his 49ers stay.

Walker would be likelier to make San Francisco’s 53-man roster if Hufanga started the season on the PUP list. The Lions released the 43-game starter after six seasons in February. Hufanga represents an important part of San Francisco’s defense, having risen from part-timer as a rookie to first-team All-Pro in his second season. This will be a pivotal year for both he and Greenlaw, with each player on an expiring contract.

49ers Notes: Hufanga, Puni, Davis

August 18th, 2024 at 9:44am CST by Rory Parks

The 49ers continue to work on resolutions to their high-profile contract disputes with WR Brandon Aiyuk and LT Trent Williams, and the club is also waiting on 2022 First Team All-Pro safety Talanoa Hufanga. As Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle details, Hufanga — who sustained a torn ACL in November — was cleared to take the next steps in his rehab, but that does not yet include practice.

“We can push him a little bit harder,” head coach Kyle Shanahan said. “Not against players. But those type of dynamic cuts. Hopefully, he has a real good week with it and we can talk about easing him into practice.”

With the start of the regular season fast approaching, the fact that Hufanga has not been cleared to practice yet suggests that he may not be ready for Week 1 as originally hoped. George Odum has been taking first-team reps in Hufanga’s absence, though fourth-round rookie Malik Mustapha is pushing the veteran for playing time.

2024 is the final season of Hufanga’s rookie contract, so an early and productive return to the starting lineup will be a major boon to his future earning power.

Now for a few more items, including several injury-related notes, from the Bay Area:

  • Thanks in part to injuries to Spencer Burford and Jon Feliciano, third-round rookie Dominick Puni saw immediate action as the first-team right guard in the early days of training camp. It was noted at the time that the former Central Missouri blocker, who finished his collegiate career as a tackle at Kansas, was catching on quickly to the Niners’ complex blocking scheme, and it seems he has continued to build momentum. Per Matt Barrows of The Athletic (subscription required), Puni is the presumptive RG starter, although the team wants to see further growth from him.
  • Puni’s fellow starting guard, LG Aaron Banks, recently sustained a broken little finger, per Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area. Like Hufanga, Banks is entering the final year of his rookie deal, and though he has served as the full-time starter at left guard over each of the past two seasons, he has not exactly been a world-beater. A strong showing in 2024 will help him secure a notable second NFL contract, even if it does not come from the 49ers (the club has not been overly willing to pay up for interior lineman in recent years, and we heard last month that Puni could eventually take over for Banks at LG). Luckily, Banks could return for Week 1.
  • The news is not as good for DT Kalia Davis, who will undergo knee surgery and who will miss half of the 2024 season as a result (as relayed by Barrows). Davis, a 2022 sixth-rounder, sustained a torn ACL during his final year of college and missed his entire rookie season as a result. He appeared in a total of 54 defensive snaps across three games last year, but he performed well in last week’s preseason opener (a sack and two backfield hits). His efforts to carve out a more meaningful role in San Francisco’s D-line rotation will be put on hold, with Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reporting that surgery is necessary to remove a floating body in Davis’ knee.
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