49ers DC Nick Sorensen ‘excited’ to have Talanoa Hufanga back on the field

Sep 1, 2024, 7:00 AM

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 03: Safety Talanoa Hufanga #29 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after defeating the Los Angeles Rams during the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium on October 03, 2022 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

BY AMILIANO FRAGOSO

San Francisco 49ers Beat Writer

The most welcome surprise of the 49ers’ 2024 53-man roster was the inclusion of Talanoa Hufanga, with everyone excited to have the versatile safety back on the field.

San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen is one of many inside the organization to feel rejuvenated, impressed by how the safety has rebounded. Of course, it’ll be some time before he is back to 100% in terms of in-game shape. But just having Hufanga back on the practice field with the team raises the bar for others.

“He’s working his way back. It’s just great to see him out there, to get pads on and have a helmet on and go through individual. Really excited for him,” Sorensen said about Talanoa Hufanga recently. “He’s really worked his butt off. Hearing how he’s gone through this process, I’m not surprised just because of who he is. I think everybody involved with it, but him primarily, the way that he worked to get back to this, it’s exciting and really happy for him.”

Talanoa Hufanga back at 49ers practice pic.twitter.com/I9cAYb81u9

— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) August 29, 2024

It’s been more than nine months since that devastating night in November against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 49ers were on their way to picking up their second post-bye-week win before Hufanga slipped on the Levi’s Stadium grass. After putting together his first All-Pro season in the NFL a year prior, “Huff” was on his way to another stellar campaign before disaster struck.

Despite being understandable dejected after the fact, the Oregon native remained hellbent on attacking this recovery. Now nine months later, Hufanga’s positive demeanor has rewarded him with an exclusion from the Physically-Unable-To-Perform list, meaning his return is on the horizon.

“He’s always positive,” Sorensen stated. “He’s a good dude, but he’s also very smart, cerebral, always wanting to talk ball. And the way that he plays, he’s a violent player too and he cuts it loose. But as a person, yes, very positive. You can see that he had these goals in mind in talking to him over the last few months. So that’s why I feel like I’m not surprised just because of who he is. And when you set goals and you hit those checkmarks along the way, then it can happen.”

The road from recovery isn’t complete just yet though, as Hufanga is beginning his ramp-up process on the field. That may take a few weeks, with the 49ers in no rush to get him back on the field. The signing of veteran S Tracy Walker III to the team’s practice squad indicates a contingency plan in the secondary for, at the very least, Week 1.

But given how Talanoa Hufanga has attacked recovery, it’d be no surprise to see it come down to a game-time decision on Monday night.

“We’re going to be judicious, going to be smart,” 49ers general manager John Lynch said about Hufanga. “He’s done a fabulous job with his rehab and he’s been doing everything he can to the side. Today’s a big step, get him back at practice. I think [49ers coach Kyle Shanahan] said earlier, we’ll get him through individual, won’t throw too much. You kind of like to phase that in.

“Will he be ready Week 1? Not sure. I think it’s going to be tight, but I think it’s telling that we made the decision not to keep him on PUP, bring him off and we expect him somewhere early in the season. So, real proud of Huff and his progress. He makes us a better team, so be great to have him.”