49ers' Talanoa Hufanga: Practices in full Wednesday
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Hufanga (knee) was listed as a full participant in Wednesday's practice session, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
Wednesday's practice was Hufanga's first as a full participant this season, perhaps setting the stage for him to make his 2024 debut Sunday versus the Rams. Before suffering a season-ending ACL tear last November, Hufanga tallied 52 tackles (39 solo) and three interceptions. If available against the Rams, Hufanga will likely reclaim a starting role at safety, though the 49ers could ease him back into the mix with a more limited snap count than usual.
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49ers' Talanoa Hufanga: Unlikely to play Monday
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Hufanga (knee) is listed as doubtful for Monday's game against the Jets, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Hufanga was a limited participant in the 49ers' first two practices of the week as he continues to work his way back from the ACL tear he suffered last November. Assuming he doesn't suit up Monday, George Odum is the likely candidate to start at strong safety alongside free safety Ji'Ayir Brown.
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49ers' Talanoa Hufanga: Logs limited practice Friday
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Hufanga (knee) practiced in limited fashion Friday, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
It was the second straight limited practice session for Hufanga, who underwent surgery after tearing his ACL last November. The 24-year-old didn't play in any exhibition contests and is far from certain to be ready to suit up for Monday's regular-season opener against the Jets. However, Hufanga's ability to log limited sessions in practice bodes well for the likelihood that he'll be able to get back into game action in the not-too-distant future.
Hufanga (knee) was a limited participant in practice Thursday, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.
The safety was activated from the active/PUP list Aug. 27. Hufanga tore his ACL in Week 11 of last season. While the 2022 All-Pro's status remains unclear for Week 1 against the Jets, he appears to be trending in the right direction.
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49ers' Talanoa Hufanga: Avoids starting the season PUP
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The 49ers activated Hufanga (knee) from the active/PUP list Tuesday.
Hufanga is recovering from a torn ACL that he sustained in Week 11 last year, and coach Kyle Shanahan said Sunday that he might be placed on injured reserve for the first four games of the 2024 campaign. While he avoided landing on this list as part of San Francisco's final 53-man roster moves, it's still unclear if the 2022 All-Pro will be available for the regular-season opener versus the Jets on Monday, Sept. 9. Hufanga recorded 52 tackles and three interceptions across 10 games last season. If he's ultimately sidelined Week 1, then either George Odum or rookie Malik Mustapha should step in as the 49ers' starting strong safety.
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49ers' Talanoa Hufanga: Missing practice with ACL injury
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Hufanga (ACL) is sitting out of practice ahead of the 49ers' preseason finale at Las Vegas, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
It was believed that Hufanga might be starting to work his way back into drills by now, but he apparently still has a ways to go. Until he can suit up again, George Odum could see more practice reps.
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49ers' Talanoa Hufanga: Expected back within two weeks
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San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan said Saturday that he expects Hufanga (knee) to be back "in the next week or two," David Lombardi of The Athletic reports.
Hufanga is in the final stages of his recovery from the torn ACL he suffered last November against Tampa Bay. Shanahan indicated Saturday that Hufanga may be able to return around the time the 49ers and Saints hold joint practices, which will take place in mid-August. Hufanga thus has a good chance of being ready to take on his starting safety role from the opening game of the regular season.
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49ers' Talanoa Hufanga: Placed on IR
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Hufanga (knee) was placed on the injured reserve list by the 49ers on Tuesday.
Hufanga suffered a torn ACL in Sunday's 27-14 win over the Buccaneers, so the move to IR comes as no surprise. The talented safety will now shift his focus to a return during the 2024 campaign, and in the meantime, Ji'Ayir Brown will take over in San Francisco's secondary.
San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed Monday that Hufanga suffered a season-ending ACL tear to his right knee in Sunday's 27-14 win over the Buccaneers, Josh Dubow of the Associated Press reports.
Shanahan had already said after the game Sunday that Hufanga had likely suffered a torn ACL, and follow-up tests on the safety's knee quickly confirmed as much. The loss of Hufanga is a devastating one for the San Francisco defense, as the 23-year-old has emerged as one of the NFL's premier safeties in his third season in the league. Over 10 appearances this season, Hufanga tallied 52 tackles and three interceptions.
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49ers' Talanoa Hufanga: Carted off, done for day
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Hufanga (knee) has been ruled out for the rest of Sunday's game against the Buccaneers, Lindsey Pallares of the 49ers' official site reports.
Hufanga suffered a knee injury and was carted off the field in the third quarter, bringing his day to an end. In his absence, George Odum will be thrust into a significant role in San Francisco's secondary.
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49ers' Talanoa Hufanga: Gets interception at Jacksonville
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Hufanga recorded eight tackles (five solo) and an interception in Sunday's 34-3 win at the Jaguars.
In the middle of the third quarter, Hufanga was in the right place at the right time for his third pick of the year after Tank Bigsby tipped up an errant third-down pass. Hufanga also tallied seven-plus tackles for the fourth time in as many games in Week 10. He's a noteworthy blip on the IDP radar heading into a Week 11 matchup versus the Buccaneers.
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49ers' Talanoa Hufanga: Season-high tackles in win
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Hufanga had 10 tackles (eight solo) in Sunday's 31-17 loss to the Bengals.
Hufanga was in a three-way tie for most tackles on the day with Isaiah Oliver and Fred Warner. It was the first time Hufanga reached double-digit tackles this year and was the first time he's done so since Week 1 of the 2022 season. He's played in 100 percent of the team's defensive snaps in each of the last three games.
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49ers' Talanoa Hufanga: Breakout year at safety
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Hufanga finished the 2022 season with 97 tackles (66 solo), four interceptions, two sacks and two forced fumbles across 17 regular-season games.
Hufanga also scored a touchdown on one of his interceptions, rounding out a breakout year at safety. The 2021 fifth-round pick remains on his rookie contract through the 2024 season, but he will likely command some sort of extension before then if he can reproduce the results we saw this year. Hufanga will begin next season as the 49ers' starting strong safety, putting him in position to post strong IDP numbers.
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49ers' Talanoa Hufanga: Nine stops in Week 17
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Hufanga notched nine tackles (four solo) during Sunday's 37-34 win over the Raiders.
Hufanga's nine tackles were good for second on the team behind Fred Warner and tied his second-highest mark of the season. In his first full season as a starter, the second-year safety has totaled 93 stops, nine pass defenses, four interceptions, two sacks, two forced fumbles and one defensive touchdown.
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49ers' Talanoa Hufanga: Listed as questionable for Sunday
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Hufanga (concussion) is considered questionable for Sunday's game against Kansas City, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Hufanga entered concussion protocol Monday after taking a hit to the head in a Week 6 loss against Atlanta. He missed the first two practices this week but was able to return in a limited fashion Friday. Should Hufanga not be able to clear the protocol, Tarvarius Moore could be in line to replace him in the lineup.
Initially cleared to return after suffering a blow to the head during Sunday's loss at Atlanta, Hufanga entered concussion protocol Monday, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Per coach Kyle Shanahan, Hufanga did not display concussion symptoms until entering the 49ers' facilities Monday. If the sophomore safety is forced to miss Week 7 versus Kansas City, George Odum would likely be in line for the majority of the fill-in reps.
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49ers' Talanoa Hufanga: First sack of 2022
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Hufanga recorded five tackles (two solo), one sack and one pass breakup during Sunday's 37-15 win over the Panthers.
Hufanga's totaled 30 tackles, two interceptions and five pass breakups through his five contests of 2022. This is already a drastic increase from his 2021 campaign, where he compiled 32 tackles, zero interceptions and two pass breakups through 15 games. The 22-year-old is on pace for 100 plus tackles this season if he remains healthy.
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49ers' Talanoa Hufanga: Competing for starting safety job
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Hufanga is one of several options who could start at strong safety alongside 49ers' veteran free safety, Jimmie Ward, this season.
The hard-hitting Hufanga impressed the coaching staff with his physical style of play last year, posting 32 tackles primarily as a special-teams contributor. The 2021 fifth-round pick isn't the best coverage safety at this point of his career, so he will likely come off the field in some situations even if he wins the job. From an IDP standpoint, Hufanga would have to be an every-down starter to gain serious IDP consideration this season.
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49ers' Talanoa Hufanga: Considered questionable
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Hufanga (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday's wild-card matchup with the Cowboys.
Hufanga was a limited participant at practice all week and is looking like a true game-time decision. Jarrod Wilson would be the only depth available at safety should Hufanga ultimately be unable to go.
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49ers' Talanoa Hufanga: Should return Sunday
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Hufanga (knee) logged a full practice Friday and has no injury designation for Sunday against the Rams, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.
Hufanga hasn't played since Week 15 against the Falcons when he suffered the injury. His return Sunday against the Rams would be a huge boost to the depth of the 49ers' secondary, especially if Jaquiski Tartt (shoulder) is unable to play.
