The San Francisco 49ers are still working on resolving their high-profile contract disputes with wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and left tackle Trent Williams, while they also await news on safety Talanoa Hufanga. According to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle, Hufanga, who tore his ACL last November, has been cleared to advance in his rehab but is not yet ready to practice.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan commented, “We can push him a bit more, but not against other players. We’ll focus on dynamic cuts. Hopefully, he has a strong week, and then we can discuss starting practice.”
With the regular season approaching, the delay in Hufanga’s practice clearance indicates he might not be ready for Week 1 as hoped. In his absence, George Odum has been taking first-team reps, though rookie Malik Mustapha is also competing for playing time.
2024 is the final year of Hufanga’s rookie contract, so a timely and effective return to the lineup could significantly boost his future earning potential.
In other updates from the Bay Area:
Due to injuries to Spencer Burford and Jon Feliciano, third-round rookie Dominick Puni has stepped up as the first-team right guard early in training camp. Originally a tackle at Kansas and previously from Central Missouri, Puni is adapting well to the Niners’ blocking scheme and is considered the likely starter, although the team seeks further development from him.
Starting left guard Aaron Banks recently suffered a broken little finger. Banks, also in the final year of his rookie contract, has been a steady starter but not outstanding. A strong performance in 2024 could help him secure a significant second contract, potentially even with a different team, as the 49ers have been reluctant to invest heavily in interior linemen. Banks might be back in time for Week 1.
Unfortunately, defensive tackle Kalia Davis will miss half of the 2024 season due to knee surgery. Davis, a 2022 sixth-round pick, is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in college and missed his entire rookie season. Although he showed promise in last week’s preseason game, the need for surgery to remove a floating body in his knee will delay his progress in securing a more substantial role on the defensive line.
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