San Francisco 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga is recovering from a torn ACL he suffered in Week 11 of last season, leaving his status for the 2024 NFL season opener is in question.
49ers insider David Lombardi provided an update on Hufanga on Wednesday, but there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of new information on the star defensive back.
In 10 games last season, Hufanga registered 52 tackles and three interceptions.
The 25-year-old, who played his collegiate football at USC, was selected by San Francisco in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
He appeared in 15 contests during his rookie campaign, logging 32 tackles. Then, the following year, Hufanga broke out, racking up 97 tackles, a couple of sacks, four picks, nine passes defended and a defensive touchdown en route to a Pro Bowl appearance and a First-Team All-Pro selection.
Hufanga’s absence down the stretch last season was a big deal, especially in the Super Bowl against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
The good news is that the Niners are slated to get Hufanga back at some point in 2024.
The 49ers are Dealing With Numerous Defensive Injuries
Hufanga is not the only key 49ers defender who is currently sidelined.
Remember: linebacker Dre Greenlaw suffered a torn Achilles in the Super Bowl, and cornerback Charvarius Ward underwent core muscle surgery this offseason.
Greenlaw doesn’t really have much of a timetable, whereas Ward is hoping to be ready for training camp.
San Francisco has been known for having dominant defenses for quite some time, but it will be tough for that to continue in 2024 with so many key players injured.
Obviously, that will change if the Niners can just get healthy, but there is no doubt that they have a lot of question marks on that side of the ball right now.
The 49ers have lost two Super Bowls to the Chiefs over the last five seasons. They keep knocking on the door, but they have not been able to break through.
The 2024 campaign will be pivotal for San Francisco, as financial constraints may make it difficult for the organization to keep this current core together moving forward.
We’ll see if the Niners can finally get over the hump next season.
Want the latest NFL analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click here. Interested in reading storylines and analysis about the NBA? Check out our partner NBA Analysis Network.
