San Francisco 49ers All-Pro safety Talanoa Hufanga is out for the rest of the season with a torn ACL.
Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan announced Monday that tests confirmed the team’s fears that the non-contact injury he sustained during Sunday’s win over Tampa Bay was indeed season-ending.
“They don’t think there was any meniscus or anything, so it was as clean as it could be for just being ACL,” Shanahan told reporters. “He’ll 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.
Hufanga suffered the injury in the third quarter trying to make a tackle on Bucs running back Rachaad White, who deked Hufanga, leading to the safety’s knee buckling when he tried to change directions.
Hufanga was replaced by rookie Ji-Ayir Brown, who broke up a pass in the end zone and had an interception in the 27-14 win over the Buccaneers. Brown is expected to start the rest of the season.
Hufanga, 23, had three interceptions and three passes defensed in 10 starts this season and was fourth on the team in tackles (52). He had four INTs in 2022 that led to All-Pro and Pro Bowl selections. The Niners selected Hufanga in the fifth round of the 2021 draft.
