49ers hopeful for Talanoa Hufanga return in training camp

Talanoa Hufanga is on track for a training camp return, which is great news for him and the 49ers. Here’s what it means for the 49ers’ roster:

The 49ers may have solved their safety depth conundrum. There were questions about Talanoa Hufanga’s availability after he tore his ACL in Week 11 last season, but head coach Kyle Shanahan on Tuesday indicated the team is hopeful it will get its starting strong safety back during training camp.

This is a pretty significant development for San Francisco, and it means their hunt for a safety in free agency will be for a depth piece instead of a starter. With Hufanga on track for a pre-Week 1 return the ambiguity of the need in the back end of the secondary is eliminated.

San Francisco will still want to add veteran depth. They need some kind of proven commodity behind Hufanga in the event of a setback or if he can’t return to full speed as quickly as they might like. However, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see them add a player via the draft to try and develop as a long-term piece for them with Hufanga entering the final year of his rookie contract.

For now though this is great news for Hufanga. He’ll not only be able to shore up the 49ers’ secondary, but he’ll have a full season under his belt as he hits his first free agency. The All-Pro safety was a fifth-round pick in the 2021 draft. He was a First-Team All-Pro in 2022, his first year as a starter, and was putting together another strong 2023 campaign when he got hurt.

Hufanga has started 30 of his 42 games for the 49ers, including 27 in a row before his injury. He’s posted 181 tackles, seven tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, two forced fumbles, seven interceptions and 14 pass breakups.

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49ers LB Dre Greenlaw eyeing Week 1 return after Achilles tear

It looks like Dre Greenlaw will be able to return at some point this season, with the LB hoping for Week 1. John Lynch is eyeing something later than that.

49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw suffered an Achilles tear in the Super Bowl that put question marks around his availability for the 2024 season. Now the LB is eyeing a Week 1 return according to general manager John Lynch. Lynch is less optimistic about the LB’s quick return.

While Greenlaw is hopeful to be back in the lineup for the 49ers in early September, Lynch is leaning more toward Greenlaw starting the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list per NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco.

If Greenlaw does start the regular season on the PUP list he won’t be able to practice, but he’d be eligible to return after four weeks. The PUP three-week practice window works the same as the IR practice window. He’d have 21 days from the time the window is opened to ramp up and get in football shape before the team would be required to activate him or shut him down for the year.

Even if Greenlaw returns by Week 5 or 6 it would be a huge boost for the 49ers’ defense. They added LB De’Vondre Campbell this offseason to likely fill in for Greenlaw. Whether Greenlaw takes back his starting Will LB spot or jumps in as an overqualified Sam LB will be determined down the line, but the fact he’d be ready to play at all is surely welcome news for Greenlaw and the 49ers following the timing of such a devastating injury.

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2 key 49ers undergo offseason surgery, expected back by camp

2 49ers All-Pros had offseason surgery, but both are expected back by training camp:

Two 49ers All-Pros had offseason surgery according to general manager John Lynch. Cornerback Charvarius Ward and tight end George Kittle both underwent core muscle surgery this offseason, with both expected back for the start of training camp per NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco.

Ward had posted about his surgery on social media, but there was no confirmation on exactly what the surgery was. Given the location of the procedure the assumption was that he’d had a core muscle operation. Lynch on Monday confirmed that.

Kittle’s surgery wasn’t as public. It’s not a surprise the 49ers’ star tight end was banged up at the end of the year given his playing style.

It’s unclear at what point either player needed the procedure, but the good news for San Francisco is that both should be back by camp. Missing offseason time is never great, but there shouldn’t be much concern that either Ward or Kittle will be ready to play once they’re cleared and training camp starts.

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49ers injury news: Deebo Samuel questionable with hamstring issue

Deebo Samuel (hamstring) is questionable to return to the Super Bowl.

Another bad injury cropped up for the 49ers midway through the third quarter of the Super Bowl. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel appeared to tweak his hamstring and he went down after pulling up on a route.

Samuel went to the blue tent for evaluation and was officially listed as questionable to return.

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49ers injury news: LB Dre Greenlaw carted off during Super Bowl

Dre Greenlaw was carted off with a lower leg injury. He’s officially questionable to return.

The 49ers entered the Super Bowl healthy, but they suffered a devastating injury to linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who was hurt running onto the field.

He’s been listed as questionable with a lower leg injury to return after being evaluated in the medical tent. The cart came out and drove him to the locker room.

Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles entered the game as the third LB with Oren Burks sliding over to Greenlaw’s Will LB spot.

Update:

The team is now calling it an Achilles injury.

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49ers inactives for Super Bowl LVIII

The #49ers have all but one of their Week 1 starters available for the Super Bowl. Here are the inactives:

The 49ers are officially at full strength for Super Bowl LVIII. Their list of inactives for the game featured no injured players.

Here’s who won’t suit up for San Francisco:

QB Brandon Allen (3rd QB)
LB Jalen Graham
CB Samuel Womack
WR Ronnie Bell
OT Matt Pryor
DT TY McGill
DT Alex Barrett

Only two Week 1 starters won’t be available in the Super Bowl for the 49ers is strong safety Talanoa Hufanga who tore his ACL in Week 11 and defensive end Clelin Ferrell who hurt his knee in the regular season finale.

McGill and Barrett were both elevated from the practice squad. They’ll get a game check, but will not be able to play in the Super Bowl.

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49ers injury report for Super Bowl is basically empty

The 49ers injury report for the Super Bowl is here and it is almost empty:

The 49ers on Friday released their injury report for Super Bowl LVIII. The only player on it is defensive tackle Kalia Davis, who hasn’t been activated off IR.

Tight end George Kittle, defensive tackle Arik Armstead, cornerback Ambry Thomas and linebacker Oren Burks were all full participants in Friday’s practice after being limited Wednesday and Thursday.

Health shouldn’t be a problem for San Francisco heading into the biggest game of the year.

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49ers injury update: George Kittle, Arik Armstead to play in Super Bowl

It looks like George Kittle and Arik Armstead are playing in the Super Bowl:

49ers tight end George Kittle and defensive tackle Arik Armstead were limited in Thursday’s practice for the second consecutive day. Head coach Kyle Shanahan after the session though told reporters he expects both Kittle and Armstead will suit up in Super Bowl LVIII.

It makes sense the team would take it easy with two starters dealing with injury problems before the biggest game of the year. They did the same with cornerback Ambry Thomas (ankle) and linebacker Oren Burks (shoulder) with both limited Thursday as well.

Defensive tackle Kalia Davis is working to return from IR and was a full participant. He’s yet to be activated and his chances of returning for the Super Bowl appear slim, though that could change by Saturday.

A status report will be due Friday at which point we’ll get an official update on the availability of Kittle, Armstead, Thomas and Burks.

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49ers practice report: George Kittle, Arik Armstead limited in 1st Super Bowl week practice

Good news on the #49ers Wednesday practice report!

The 49ers don’t have many injury questions going into the Super Bowl, and head coach Kyle Shanahan anticipates even the minor issues the team does have will be resolved by Thursday.

Shanahan on Wednesday told reporters after the team’s practice that tight end George Kittle (toe) and defensive lineman Arik Armstead (knee, foot) were both limited in Wednesday’s session. Cornerback Ambry Thomas (ankle) and linebacker Oren Burks (shoulder) were also limited according to the official practice report. Left tackle Trent Williams got a rest day. Everybody else was a full participant.

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Both Kittle and Armstead were out of the 49ers’ pair of bye week practices after the NFC championship game. Their returns to action are a good sign, and Shanahan indicated both players are on track to have full practices Thursday.

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49ers injury news: Kyle Shanahan expecting George Kittle, Arik Armstead return to practice

Kyle Shanahan expects good news for the #49ers on the injury front.

The 49ers practices during the Super Bowl bye week came with a small concern about a couple injuries to key players. Neither tight end George Kittle nor Arik Armstead participated in the two sessions the team held over its extra week between the NFC championship and the Super Bowl. It sounds like any concern was alleviated in the days since their last practice.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan on Tuesday in a press conference said he’s anticipating full participation from both Kittle and Armstead on Wednesday when the team is required to issue a practice participation report.

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“I am, but since I didn’t have to give a report today I haven’t talked to the trainers yet,” Shanahan said. “But, I’m expecting it to be pretty positive.”

Kittle is dealing with a toe injury he suffered in the NFC championship game. Armstead was listed as a non-participant last week with knee and foot injuries he’s been battling for a few weeks.

Both Kittle and Armstead are crucial to San Francisco’s success on both sides of the ball. Whether they practice in full matters less than their availability for the Super Bowl, but the full participation is a good indicator that they’ll be able to suit up Sunday.

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