The San Francisco 49ers only got Talanoa Hufanga back from a torn ACL last week, but their roster moves ahead of Sunday’s game with the New England Patriots suggest they are preparing themselves for the All-Pro safety being on the sideline once again.
Hufanga rolled his ankle during Thursday’s practice and missed the Friday session. He was listed as questionable.
San Francisco subsequently announced its practice squad elevations as part of a series of roster moves on Saturday, bringing up two rookies in the form of defensive tackle Evan Anderson and safety Jaylen Mahoney.
That the 49ers did not elevate tackle Chris Hubbard is a good sign that All-Pro Trent Williams will be able to play despite missing Friday’s practice with a toe injury.
But the elevation of Mahoney is a sign that Hufanga may be trending towards missing his third game of the season. Ji’Ayir Brown and George Odum started the first two games at safety before his return, with Odum then making way for the 2022 first-team All-Pro.
If Hufanga cannot go, then the 49ers could either return to that pairing or have rookie fourth-rounder Malik Mustapha start alongside Brown. Given Odum’s struggles in coverage in the Week 2 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, the 49ers’ preference may be to start Brown and Mustapha with Mahoney as backup to allow Odum to continue to focus solely on special teams.
Anderson, meanwhile, will help fill the void left by Javon Hargrave on the defensive line. Hargrave was placed on season-ending injured reserve with a torn triceps muscle he sustained in last week’s heartbreaking defeat to the Los Angeles Rams. Linebacker Curtis Robinson, who tore his ACL in Thursday’s practice, was also placed on IR.
Undrafted free agent Anderson is a true space eater at the defensive tackle position whose ability to hold ground against double teams could help improve a 49er run defense that had been struggling even with Hargrave on the field. Jordan Elliott, who suffered a foot injury in Thursday’s practice, will likely start next to Maliek Collins in Hargrave’s place if healthy enough to do so. Elliott was listed as questionable after returning to practice on Friday.
Defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos is a candidate to kick inside on pass-rushing downs and replace Hargrave’s impact in that regard, and the 49ers made a move that can facilitate him doing so by promoting defensive end Sam Okuayinonu to the active roster.
Okuayinonu, a surprise inclusion on the initial 53 who was then signed to the practice squad after being released as part of some roster gymnastics, had a sack against the Rams and has impressed in his two appearances so far this season.
The 49ers only had one more practice squad elevation to use on Okuayinonu, so promoting him permanently was the logical decision.
Also able to play on the interior, Okuayinonu can take Gross-Matos place on the edge if and when he kicks inside. The presence of two players up front who can play inside and out potentially gives the 49ers much-needed increased flexibility up front following the loss of Hargrave.
Okuayinonu has vindicated the 49ers’ faith in him to this point, and they will hope this hidden gem will continue to emerge after rewarding him with a well-deserved spot on the 53.