The San Francisco 49ers have two starters on defense returning from injury. Dre Greenlaw, a starting linebacker, tore his Achilles during the Super Bowl. And starting safety, Talanoa Hufanga, tore his ACL last November. Greenlaw likely won't be back on the field until later in the season, but the hope is that Hufanga will be ready early, perhaps even in week one.
But what happens if Hufanga isn't ready to go early in the season? Last week, Anthony Robertson and I sat down with 49ers beat reporter, Matt Maiocco, to discuss the 49ers. One of the questions Robertson asked Maiocco is who will line up at safety, alongside second-year player, Ji'Ayir Bown, if Hufanga isn't ready. Is there another player on the roster, or might the 49ers bring in someone from the outside?
"Well, they also have Erik Harris, who, a fringe guy at this part of his career, but he's started a lot of games," Maiocco said. "I don't get the sense that [Malik] Mustapha is. Well, we will see once training camp starts up and the pads go on and that's when, you know, when he puts the pads on, he stands out because he's a strong guy and a physical player. It very well could be where they look at that position like they did tight end, where they went out and they got Logan Thomas, a tight end, a veteran guy, to step in and be, you know, a contributor."
Many fans have been calling for the 49ers to sign someone like free agent safety, Justin Simmons. NFL Reporter for Sports Illustrated, Albert Breer, said he loves the idea of Simmons playing for the 49ers. He would be a true centerfielder that the 49ers haven't had in some time. But Maiocco doesn't see a player like Simmons being signed by the 49ers.
"Justin Simmons, how much is he going to want? I think they got to keep the door open for that. But they also know that every dollar, you know, above minimum that they're paying for one player to come in, it cuts into the cap for this year and next year and everything else. So my guess would be that Hufanga is at least close enough to start the season. Assuming there's no setbacks, expect him to be ready at some point in training camp, ready to practice, ready to get out there and play. So my guess would be that as long as he doesn't suffer any kind of setback, that George Odom would be the guy for, if needed, for one or two games, and then Hufanga gets in there. My guess would be that they don't go out and get a veteran safety whose name we might know. There are still a few guys out there.
"So that's kind of what I'm thinking with that. I think Odom is a good, you know, obviously good special teams guy, really good special teams guy. And I think good enough that you don't lose much if he's asked to step in for one or two or three games."
Hufanga believes he will be ready in week one. Will his body agree? We'll soon find out. If he's not, Maiocco, for one, doesn't expect any big splash signing at safety, but rather that the 49ers are more likely to use a player already on the roster until Hufanga is ready.
