Tag: Talanoa Hufanga

Aug 24, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers place kicker Matthew Wright (8) kicks a field goal against the Detroit Lions in the third quarter at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

49ers sign K Matthew Wright with Jake Moody (ankle) out

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The San Francisco 49ers, who play the host Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night, signed kicker Matthew Wright to a one-year contract on Tuesday.

Starting kicker Jake Moody sustained a high ankle sprain in the second quarter of the 49ers’ 24-23 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday and will not be available. Moody was trying to tackle Cardinals returner DeeJay Dallas on a kickoff and was knocked backward, with his body folding over his right (kicking) leg.

Wright, 28, has played in 24 games for the Pittsburgh Steelers (2020, 2022), Jacksonville Jaguars (2021), Kansas City Chiefs (2022) and Carolina Panthers (2023). He has made 40 of 47 field-goal attempts, with a long kick of 59 yards, and 35 of 37 extra-point attempts. Wright has 23 touchbacks in 83 kickoffs.

He was on the 49ers’ practice squad from Sept. 4-9, 2023, and was released by the Steelers at the end of the 2024 preseason.

The 49ers also worked out kickers Randy Bullock, Riley Patterson, Anders Carlson and Matt Coghlin, according to ESPN.

San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan said that safety Talanoa Hufanga (wrist) is expected to miss about a month because of torn wrist ligaments. Hufanga, 25, has played in two games this season, both starts, and has eight tackles.

–Field Level Media

Nov 12, 2023; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; San Francisco 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga (29) during the warm ups before the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-USA TODAY Sports

49ers All-Pro S Talanoa Hufanga tore ACL

Posted on | by Field Level Media

San Francisco 49ers All-Pro safety Talanoa Hufanga is out for the rest of the season with a torn ACL.

Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan announced Monday that tests confirmed the team’s fears that the non-contact injury he sustained during Sunday’s win over Tampa Bay was indeed season-ending.

“They don’t think there was any meniscus or anything, so it was as clean as it could be for just being ACL,” Shanahan told reporters. “He’ll need a plan for training camp, but with the time and everything, if everything goes smoothly, he should be ready for Week 1” of 2024.

Hufanga suffered the injury in the third quarter trying to make a tackle on Bucs running back Rachaad White, who deked Hufanga, leading to the safety’s knee buckling when he tried to change directions.

Hufanga was replaced by rookie Ji-Ayir Brown, who broke up a pass in the end zone and had an interception in the 27-14 win over the Buccaneers. Brown is expected to start the rest of the season.

Hufanga, 23, had three interceptions and three passes defensed in 10 starts this season and was fourth on the team in tackles (52). He had four INTs in 2022 that led to All-Pro and Pro Bowl selections. The Niners selected Hufanga in the fifth round of the 2021 draft.

–Field Level Media