49ers vs. Seahawks injury report: Hufanga placed on IR originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Both the 49ers and Seattle Seahawks are dealing with the injury heading into their “Thursday Night Football” game at Lumen Field.
The 49ers expected safety Talanoa Hufanga, who suffered ligament damage in the team’s Week 5 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, and kicker Jake Moody, who suffered a high ankle sprain, to be out for several weeks. Both players were candidates for injured reserve, and the 49ers made one of the moves official on Wednesday, placing Hufanga on IR and sidelining him for the next four games.
Both defensive lineman Jordan Elliott (knee) and linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (calf) will also miss Thursday night’s game, but in better news, both tight end George Kittle and linebacker Fred Warner have no injury designations and will play.
Wide receiver Chris Conley, who missed the Week 5 game with an oblique injury, is listed as questionable, along with cornerback Charvarius Ward who suffered a knee injury on Sunday.
Here is the full injury report for both teams:
49ers
OUT
DT Jordan Elliott (knee)
LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (calf)
S Talanoa Hufanga (wrist)
K Jake Moody (right ankle)
Doubtful
WR Chris Conley (oblique)
CB Charvarius Ward (knee)
Seahawks
OUT
DT Byron Murphy II (hamstrings)
CB Riq Wollen (single)
Doubtful
OLB Boye Mafe (knee)
OLB Derick Hall (foot)
S Julian Love (hamstring)
For the Seahawks, several starting defensemen will miss the short-week game, including the players mentioned above and outside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu, who is expected to be placed on injured reserve with a thigh injury.
San Francisco defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen will rely on Malik Mustafa in place of Hufanga at safety. The rookie played five games, including one as a starter, and has impressed coach Kyle Shanahan with his hard-hitting tendencies, but he recognizes the need for the young defenseman’s continued growth.
“I think communication is one of the hardest things, especially for a young man coming in here,” Shanahan said Tuesday. “I think he will get better at that the more he is on the market. I think it’s just his lack of hesitation. When he came in he did the same. I think he’s getting faster every week, just recognizing things and not breaking down and trying to get through his tackles.
Newly signed kicker Matthew Wright will take over kicking duties and the 49ers will likely promote a pair of defensive linemen from the practice squad to play alongside Maliek Collins and Kalia Davis. Both TY McGill and rookie Evan Anderson could see playing time on Thursday night.
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