49ers safety Talanoa Hufanaga out for season with torn ACL
49ers coach Kyle Shanahan and 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan and linebacker Fred Warner said J’Air Brown “didn’t move” after replacing the injured Talanoa Hufanga in San Francisco’s 27-14 win over Tampa Bay.
The 49ers’ fears became a reality Monday morning when an MRI scan confirmed the All-Pro was safe. Talanoa Hufanga suffered a torn cruciate ligament in his right knee.
Hufanga will undergo season-ending surgery to repair a torn ligament, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said on a conference call with Bay Area reporters.
Because Hupanga was off the Tampa flight when he was on top, he went down on his right knee and tried to face Tampa Bay running back Rachard White, 49, in Sunday’s game for “Clara.”
Initial tests showed that Hufanga suffered serious injuries. He was taken from the sideline of 49 to the locker room.
Family members met Hufanga in the 49ers locker room, and he left Levy Stadium after the game on crutches with a large leg brace.
“It’s tough news,” 49ers linebacker Fred Warner said Sunday night after medical officials determined Hufanga had a possible ACL tear.
Recovery from an ACL injury usually takes nine months, as long as there are no setbacks along the way. Hufanga is likely to play for the start of the 2024 season.
Bosa talks about his funny conversation on the field with Mayfield at the 49ers-Bucs game.
“He’s going to need a training camp plan, but if everything goes well, he should be ready for Week 1,” Shanahan said Monday. Hufanga, 23, is a three-year NFL player who was selected by the 49ers in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of USC.
He had a breakout season as a starter a year ago. Hufanga was named to the NFC Pro Bowl team and first team All-Pro after recording 97 tackles, four interceptions and a touchdown.
He is the team leader with three goals this season. J’Iyer Brown, a third-round pick out of Penn State, took over in Hufanga’s absence and made more plays late in the fourth quarter to help preserve the 49ers’ victory over the Buccaneers.
Brown broke up Baker Mayfield’s fourth-down pass in the end zone against Pro Bowl wide receiver Mike Evans with 6:39 left.
Brown had his first NFL interception with 3:38 left in the game on a diving interception in the end zone from 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw.
“I know it felt good for Huff when he got that big pick to go down and seal the game,” 49ers defensive lineman Aric Armstead said. “It was a good play to end the game and get us off the field.”
Brown is slated to make his first NFL start Thursday night when the 49ers return to action in a key NFC West matchup against the Seattle Seahawks.
