Deebo Samuel and Jimmy Garoppolo aren't the only players noticeably absent in Santa Clara this week as the San Francisco 49ers begin organized team activities. According to NBC Sports Bay Area, veteran center Alex Mack is also missing.
Center Alex Mack did not attend the first day of #49ers organized team activities on Monday, according to a source. There's still no official word from Mack about his plan for the 2022 season. The NFL All-Decade player is 36 and a 13-year pro.
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) May 24, 2022
There has been no word on whether Mack will play in his 14th NFL season. In March, general manager John Lynch was optimistic that Mack would return for his second season with the 49ers. He has sounded less optimistic since, calling the situation "fluid" during last month's draft.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan admitted that Mack's uncertainty about playing in 2022 caught them off guard.
"I think it did (catch us off guard) a little bit, but it's also understandable," Shanahan said on April 30. "Football's not the easiest thing to do, no matter how much you enjoy the competition. He's up there in age, but in terms of how he looks on tape and how he was, everyone knows he can still play. Whatever's best for him and his family, and I know that's something he's trying to work with."
Mack started all 17 games with the 49ers last season.