San Francisco 49ers inactives confirm absence of injured All-Pro for Week 4 clash with New England Patriots

The San Francisco 49ers got mostly good news injury news to start Sunday ahead of their Week 4 game with the New England Patriots. They will, however, be without one All-Pro. As expected, wide receiver Deebo Samuel (calf) and left tackle Trent Williams (toe) were both confirmed as active, providing a significant boost to Brock […]

Nicholas McGee
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San Francisco 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga (29) warms up prior to the game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

The San Francisco 49ers got mostly good news injury news to start Sunday ahead of their Week 4 game with the New England Patriots. They will, however, be without one All-Pro.

As expected, wide receiver Deebo Samuel (calf) and left tackle Trent Williams (toe) were both confirmed as active, providing a significant boost to Brock Purdy and the offense.

But the major problems for the 49ers have been on defense and special teams.

The defense suffered a blow ahead of this game when All-Pro safety Talanoa Hufanga rolled his ankle in Thursday's practice and missed Friday's practice. The 49ers elevated safety Jaylen Mahoney from the practice squad in a clear sign Hufanga would be out, and that is indeed the case.

Along with Samuel and Williams, defensive tackle Jordan Elliott (foot) and linebacker Dee Winters (ankle) are both active. Elliott was carted out of Thursday's practice but returned in a limited capacity on Friday. He will likely start in place of Javon Hargrave, who is out for the season with a torn triceps muscle. Winters could well eat into De'Vondre Campbell's snaps at WILL linebacker after a disappointing showing for Campbell in last week's stunning defeat to the Los Angeles Rams.

Wide receiver Ronnie Bell, who dropped a potential game-sealing pass in the fourth quarter against the Rams, is inactive.

49ers inactives vs. Patriots

  • QB Joshua Dobbs 
  • WR Ronnie Bell
  • S Talanoa Hufanga
  • OL Ben Bartch
  • CB Darrell Luter Jr.

Hufanga, a first-team All-Pro in 2022, only returned from a torn ACL last week for the 49ers' Week 3 loss to the Rams.

His absence means the 49ers will likely start either George Odum or rookie Malik Mustapha at safety next to Ji'Ayir Brown.

The 49ers started core special teamer Odum for the first two games, but his struggles in pass coverage and his importance to the special teams may see San Francisco instead look to give experience to promising fourth-rounder Mustapha in a game the Niners are expected to dominate. 

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