While the San Francisco 49ers moved to 7-3 with a 27-14 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, they also suffered a significant loss to their defense.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has confirmed that safety Talanoa Hufanga suffered a torn ACL in San Francisco’s Week 11 win. The 2022 first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection will miss the remainder of the 2023 season as a result of the injury.
“He started out well,” Shanahan told reporters of Hufanga according to the team’s official website. “He hit a little lull during the season in our skid, and he played one of his best games versus Jacksonville. I thought the same thing was going to happen here, but I thought he was going to end up having a real good year.”
After Hufanga suffered the injury in the third quarter of Sunday’s game, San Francisco replaced him with rookie Ji’Ayir Brown. The Penn State product played well, tallying four total tackles, three passes defended and a quarterback hit, as well as an interception with 3:38 remaining to help seal the 49ers’ win.
Now Brown will find himself in San Francisco’s starting lineup as the 49ers look to make good on their Super Bowl aspirations. Following the news of Hufanga’s season-ending injury on Monday, many took to social media to weigh in.
Really tough loss for the @49ers. Hufanga embodies the Niners defense. He’s relentless, aggressive, and his will to win jumps out on tape. Get better quick 29! https://t.co/tWpDRHh9Ds
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) November 20, 2023
Their secondary is getting very worrisome. Pass rush has to be dominant every snap. All eyes on Ji'ayir Brown. #FTTB https://t.co/38SRpeqSKw
— Thats Textbook Sports (@Textbook_Sports) November 20, 2023
Every year, it never fails this team. Speedy recovery Huf 🫡 #FTTB https://t.co/KRagi5jK3U
— Mr. Marcus (@Blckjack9) November 20, 2023
A devastating loss for the 49ers, who loses an All-Pro safety in the secondary.
The starting role will now have to be assumed by Ji’Ayir Brown, the second round rookie safety out of Penn State. https://t.co/nEPZSueCb0
— Sports Counsel (@sports_counsel) November 20, 2023
This is devastating for that defense https://t.co/AWp3NfUnW8
— A M B E Z Y (@bezy_bby) November 20, 2023
Way to many injuries this season that sucks https://t.co/SXK2wcHxgR
— Vincetoldyouso (@TheCollinsWay) November 20, 2023
I can’t take all of this. Just end the season man 😔 https://t.co/dByf97NoAH
— Ev Glaze (@Everett_G07) November 20, 2023
Damn big hit for 49er fans https://t.co/1cglRKiBvG
— Cesar' (@CeeReyez7) November 20, 2023
Man this is brutal. Hate this for the kid https://t.co/OMPWIyouP2
— Derek for real (@DK_England) November 20, 2023
