The San Francisco 49ers are dealing with a significant number of injuries affecting their star players. Running back Christian McCaffrey remains out due to tendinitis in both feet, and defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos has been placed on injured reserve with a knee injury. Recently, head coach Kyle Shanahan announced that star safety Talanoa Hufanga will miss about a month because of torn wrist ligaments. Hufanga is crucial to the team’s defense, and his absence will be a considerable blow. This season, he has struggled with injuries, appearing in only two games before injuring his wrist in the match against the Arizona Cardinals, which the 49ers lost on a last-second field goal.
In light of Hufanga’s injury, George Odum and Malik Mustapha will need to step up in the secondary. Last season, Hufanga recorded 52 tackles and three interceptions, and there were expectations for him to replicate that performance in 2024. While Shanahan has not confirmed whether Hufanga will be placed on injured reserve, his expected absence may require it, though the team might have limited options for returning players. Additionally, the 49ers have signed Matthew Wright to a one-year deal while Jake Moody recovers from a high ankle sprain.
Despite the injuries, the 49ers hold a 2-3 record and are preparing for challenging matchups against the Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs, and Dallas Cowboys in the upcoming weeks. Although having Hufanga available for these games would be ideal, he will need time to heal. The silver lining is that the 49ers have a bye in Week 9, which could allow Hufanga to return in Week 10 without the need to place him on IR, potentially freeing up space for another injured player.
