Tag: Talanoa Hufanga

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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How Talanoa Hufanga injury impacts 49ers offseason

Don’t expect the #49ers to make a big splash at safety as they navigate Talanoa Hufanga’s injury:

The 49ers are in a little bit of a tough spot when it comes to navigating the safety market this offseason. It appears they have two young starters to fill out the free safety and strong safety spots with Ji’Ayir Brown and Talanoa Hufanga, but Hufanga’s torn ACL in Week 11 of last season puts a sizable twist into how San Francisco can attack the position this offseason.

Even before Hufanga’s injury last season it looked on the horizon like the 49ers were going to need some depth at the position in 2024. Brown at that point was waiting in the wings behind Hufanga and Tashaun Gipson, and veteran special teams ace George Odum is at his best when just contributing on special teams. San Francisco, assuming Gipson’s exit, was going to need some viable depth.

The issue now is what type of depth they’ll need, and what the 49ers want to do over the next couple of years at that spot.

In the short-term they have to figure out if they need to find a player capable of starting if Hufanga isn’t ready to return by the season opener. It’s hard to be super optimistic about that since he was hurt so late in the year, but it’s not impossible that he’d be on the field by early September. They’ll need depth in either event, but the quality of player they add will have to be determined by Hufanga’s prognosis.

Do they go get a veteran like Broncos safety Justin Simmons or Bills safety Jordan Poyer, both of whom were released for salary cap reasons? Or do they add a free agent from the margins who can work in as a short-term starter if Hufanga does miss time?

The draft is also an option, but that’s where the long-term piece of this puzzle falls in. Hufanga is entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2024, and his play through three seasons could earn him a deal beyond the 49ers’ budget next offseason. That would mean a relatively early pick in this year’s draft would be prudent since they’d be able to pair that player long-term with Brown.

If there’s optimism that Hufanga will re-sign, then perhaps the team would either skip a draft pick this year or use a later-round pick on a player who may or may not ultimately contribute.

There are no firm answers either way, but it would appear that a low-cost free agent on a one-year deal would make the most sense. That gives San Francisco the quality of depth they need to withstand Hufanga’s injury recovery, while also not tying them up for too many years. If they lose that free agent and Hufanga next offseason they’d be able to cross that bridge then either via free agency or the draft.

For now the lack of answers makes it hard to believe a big splash is coming for the 49ers at safety in 2024.

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Two former USC football stars will watch the NFC Championship Game instead of playing in it

Talanoa Hufanga and Drake Jackson will watch the NFC title game in street clothes instead of suiting up for the 49ers.

Athletes want to play on the biggest stages. Two USC football stars won’t get that chance when the San Francisco 49ers face the Detroit Lions in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday afternoon. When the Niners host Detroit at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, they won’t have two former Trojans in shoulder pads and a full uniform.

Talanoa Hufanga and Drake Jackson both suffered season-ending injuries a few months ago. A Niner defense which has struggled at times to defend the run, and which can use all the pass-rushing help it can get with opponents double-teaming Nick Bosa, won’t have the services of Talanoa Hufanga and Drake Jackson. The Niners have a lot less depth than they otherwise would have owned due to these injuries. If these two former Trojans had been active and healthy, San Francisco would have more options and more bodies to throw at the Lions, who have a strong running game and do not figure to be a pushover despite their relative lack of playoff experience.

Niners-Lions is Sunday at 3:30 p.m. local time in Santa Clara, 6:30 Eastern in Detroit and the rest of the Eastern time zone. The game is will be aired by Fox Sports.

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49ers beat Pete Carroll’s Seahawks without an injured Talanoa Hufanga

Talanoa Hufanga helped the 49ers. Now he hopes San Francisco has enough to make the Super Bowl without him.

The San Fransisco 49ers pounded the Seattle Seahawks on Thanksgiving night, 31-13, to take full control of the NFC West Division. The Niners watched the Detroit Lions lose earlier on Thursday, boosting their odds of finishing with the No. 2 seed in the NFC, which is what they did last year.

One 49er received unfortunate news earlier this month. Former USC star Talanoa Hufanga was ruled out for the rest of the season. An MRI confirmed that the All-Pro safety did, in fact, tear his ACL in a game against the Tampa Buccaneers.

49er head coach Kyle Shanahan said, “They don’t think there was any meniscus or anything, so it was as clean as it could be for just being an ACL.”

Through 10 games, Hufanga was fourth on the team in tackles (51) and tied for first in interceptions (3).

Hufanga, 23, earned a full-time starting job with the 49ers last year in his second NFL season. He started all 17 games, tallying four interceptions, two forced fumbles, nine passes defended, two sacks and 66 tackles. He earned a Pro Bowl invite and first-team All-Pro honors for his efforts.

In his third season, Hufanga will be eligible for a contract extension for the first time in his pro career. His injury makes that situation a bit murkier, but Shanahan indicated that Hufanga should be ready to go at the start of next season.

“He will need a plan for training camp, but with the time and everything, if everything goes smoothly, he should be ready for Week 1 of 2024” Shanahan said.

Hufanga might be watching the 49ers make a run to the Super Bowl. The big question will be if Hufanga’s absence proves to be pivotal in the Niners’ battle with the Philadelphia Eagles for the NFC championship.

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Former USC star Talanoa Hufanga tears ACL, is out for the season with 49ers

Hufanga’s season comes to an abrupt end in San Francisco.

The 2023 NFL season contains a lot of promise and potential for the San Francisco 49ers, widely viewed as one of the top contenders for Super Bowl LVIII in February. The Niners’ pursuit of the Vince Lombardi Trophy will continue without a USC Trojan who has become a very good NFL player.

San Francisco safety Talanoa Hufanga, an important part of the 49ers’ defense, is out for the rest of the 2023 season with a torn ACL, coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed.

Hufanga will therefore not play on Thanksgiving night against Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks in an NFC West showdown.

Niners Wire has more on the story:

“Replacing Hufanga won’t be easy for San Francisco. He was a First-Team All-Pro last season and since becoming the starting strong safety in 2022 he has 148 tackles, seven tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, seven interceptions and 12 pass breakups.

“The team will now turn to rookie third-round pick Ji’Ayir Brown. Brown filled in admirably Sunday with four tackles, two pass breakups to save touchdowns, and an interception in the red zone.”

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49ers injury update: Talanoa Hufanga out for season with torn ACL

It’s a torn ACL for #49ers SS Talanoa Hufanga.

The 49ers’ fears about Talanoa Hufanga’s ACL have been confirmed. Head coach Kyle Shanahan on Monday said imaging on the third-year safety’s right knee showed a torn ACL. His season is over.

Shanahan said the ACL tear was clean with no additional damage to the surrounding ligaments, and there’s hope Hufanga will be ready to play by the start of next season.

Hufanga went down awkwardly trying to make an open field tackle in the third quarter of Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers. He immediately went to the sideline and spent time in the medical tent before the team ruled him out with a knee injury.

Shanahan after the game said the team was concerned about an ACL injury, but had to wait for imaging to confirm it.

Replacing Hufanga won’t be easy for San Francisco. He was a First-Team All-Pro last season and since becoming the starting strong safety in 2022 he has 148 tackles, seven tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, seven interceptions and 12 pass breakups.

The team will now turn to rookie third-round pick Ji’Ayir Brown. Brown filled in admirably Sunday with four tackles, two pass breakups to save touchdowns, and an interception in the red zone.

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The good and bad from the 49ers’ 27-14 win vs. Bucs

Looking at all the good and some of the bad from the 49ers’ 27-14 win over the Buccaneers in Week 11.

After a three game losing streak, the San Francisco 49ers’ season looked to be spiraling. However, back-to-back dominant wins over the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tampa Bay Buccaneers has the 49ers’ 2023 campaign back on track.

Behind three touchdown passes from Brock Purdy, the 49ers cruised to their season straight victory with a 27-14 win over Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers on Sunday in Week 11.

With a win, the 49ers’ moved to 7-3 on the season, sitting atop the NFC West. Riding back-to-back victories, the 49ers will now travel to Seattle for a anticipated division game against the Seahawks on Thanksgiving.

Before Turkey day, here’s a look at all of the good, and some of the bad from the 49ers’ win over the Bucs in Week 11.

This post originally appeared on Niners Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! 

49ers fear ACL injury for SS Talanoa Hufanga

Kyle Shanahan is “a little concerned” about an ACL injury for Talanoa Hufanga.

It sounds like 49ers strong safety Talanoa Hufanga suffered a bad knee injury during San Francisco’s win over the Buccaneers.

Hufanga exited in the third quarter after slipping while trying to make a tackle. He went to the medical tent immediately before being ruled out with a knee injury.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan said the team will find out the extent of the injury Monday.

“A little concerned,” Shanahan said in his postgame press conference. “We don’t know for sure. Most likely it’s ACL, but we can’t confirm it so we’ll find out later.”

It’s not a great sign that Hufanga was ruled out so quickly after going down in the third quarter. However, until imaging is done the team won’t be able to confirm the extent of the injury.

Rookie safety Ji’Ayir Brown filled in for Hufanga and broke up three passes including an interception in the red zone.

The only other injury update Shanahan had immediately following Sunday’s game was that cornerback Shemar Jean-Charles suffered a shoulder injury. There was no additional info on the extent of that injury.

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49ers injury update: SS Talanoa Hufanga out vs. Buccaneers

Talanoa Hufanga is OUT for the #49ers vs. the Buccaneers.

The 49ers have ruled out strong safety Talanoa Hufanga from Sunday’s game vs. the Buccaneers.

Hufanga in the third quarter appeared to hurt his knee when he was trying to make a tackle against Bucs RB Rachaad White in space. A replay made it look like his right knee gave way as he was trying to stop.

He left the field and spent time in the medical tent before the club ruled him out with a knee injury.

Rookie Ji’Ayir Brown is in the game for Hufanga.

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49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga claimed he didn’t know why James Conner confronted him in testy fight

Conner was SO angry with Hufanga. There has to be another explanation.

Lost in the shuffle of the San Francisco 49ers’ 35-16 beatdown of the Arizona Cardinals Sunday was the tension between Talanoa Hufanga and James Conner.

When both teams started walking off the field in Santa Clara, a disgruntled Conner approached Hufanga and confronted him. It quickly evolved into a heated scuffle where Conner tried taking some swings at Hufanga before other 49ers and Cardinals players had to separate the two. Arizona and San Francisco are divisional rivals — which means animosity is usually built in –but this individual exchange seemed to have a little more spice to it.

There had to be something more than meets the eye here, right?

A person doesn’t usually get that furious without a good reason. Putting your hands on another human being outside of the sanctioned violence in a football context takes a lot. Well, according to Jake Hutchinson of KNBR, Hufanga claimed he didn’t know why Conner was so displeased with him.

Hmm.

 

I’m hesitant to do anything but take Hufanga’s word here. The only objective video evidence we have is Conner taking swipes at Hufanga, not the other way around, and nothing from within the game. But the way Hufanga takes a stray shot at Conner’s rushing performance of 52 yards makes me think that the two might have, at least, been disrespectfully arguing with each other all afternoon.

The 49ers and Cardinals don’t meet again until mid-December in Arizona. Stay tuned for the next episode of this budding rivalry between Hufanga and Conner. I have a feeling there’s more to come.