Kyle Shanahan reveals timeline for Talanoa Hufanga’s 49ers return

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan provided several injury updates on Saturday, including the return timeline for safety Talanoa Hufanga. Hufanga has been recovering from a torn ACL suffered in November 2023.

Hufanga has been aiming to play in Week 1 against the New York Jets, with a gradual ramp-up starting during training camp.

"The goal is to be in training camp, not at the very beginning, but to ramp me up correctly, just so it's not throw you out there to the wolves and good luck," Hufanga said in June. "But trying to be smart with it. We've had plenty of conversations with the training staff, and putting me in the best possible situation to succeed for myself, and then try to help the team as well."

On Saturday, Shanahan revealed when fans can expect Hufanga to return to practice with his teammates.

"I think he's going to get checked up when we go down to L.A. and scrimmage," Shanahan said. "And I think down there is where we kind of were expecting around that time."

Shanahan refers to the week of the joint practices the 49ers will hold with the New Orleans Saints at the University of California, Irvine. These sessions will occur on August 15 and 16 before the two teams' preseason clash at Levi's Stadium on Sunday, August 18.

Hufanga, a Pro Bowl and All-Pro selection in 2022, recorded 52 tackles, one for a loss, two quarterback hits, three interceptions, and three passes defensed before his Week 11 injury last season.