San Francisco 49ers Get Big Injury Update On Young Defensive Star

On Monday September 29, 2025, San Francisco 49ers Head Coach Kyle Shanahan said that 49ers safety Malik Mustapha could be back practicing with the 49ers after Week 6. 

Mustapha has been rehabilitating from an ACL injury that he reaggravated during Week 18 of the 2024 season, and has not yet played in 2025. He is currently on the physically unable to perform list. 

The 49ers will still need to navigate Mustapaha’s absence in Week 5 against the Los Angeles Rams and Week 6 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But it sounds like Mustapha could be back starting for the 49ers as soon as Week 7 against the Atlanta Falcons.

Mustapha should slot in as a starter immediately. He started 12 games for the 49ers as a rookie in 2024 and would have been the favorite to start at safety to open the season in 2025 had he not been injured late in 2024. 

How Have 49ers Safeties Performed Without Mustapha? 

Rookie safety Marques Sigle has been a stud rookie for the 49ers in the absence of Malik Mustapha. 

He is third on the 49ers with 26 tackles, behind only linebackers Fred Warner and Dee Winters and has a pass breakup and a fumble recovery.

Interestingly, Sigle profiles similarly to Mustapha. They were both late round picks; the 49ers selected Mustapha in the 4th round in 2024 and Sigle in the 5th round in 2025. 

But they were both elite at one thing in college, something 49ers general manager John Lynch calls “SWARM”, which is how fast you can get to the ball carrier after the ball is thrown. 

Mustapha was the best at SWARM in his draft class, and Sigle was the best in his. 

They are also physically similar, both just under 6 feet tall and weighing around 200 pounds. 

49ers fans haven’t been as happy with Jason Pinnock’s performance. Pinnock, a 5-year NFL veteran, has drawn the ire of many 49ers fans on social media with his play so far in 2025. 

So, when Mustapha comes back, it’s possible that he will start alongside Sigle. Having two safeties on the field together who are so similar could be something that opposing defenses try to exploit, but if Sigle and Mustapha are both on their A-game, they could also become one of the most fearsome safety duos in the NFL. 

Other Injury Updates For the 49ers

Unfortunately, the Mustapha news was the only good injury news that the 49ers got on Monday. 

Quarterback Brock Purdy’s toe is bothering him again. Purdy missed two games with a turf toe-esque injury. He only has a few days to get right before the 49ers take on the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday. 

Also, wide receiver Ricky Pearsall sustained a minor PCL injury that could keep him out of Thursday night’s contest as well. 

Pearsall has been the 49ers’ leading yards getter at receiver with 20 catches for 327 yards. 

The Niners have been dealing with an injury-decimated wideout room throughout all of 2025. 

If Pearsall misses the Thursday night game, DeMarcus Robinson will need to step up against his former team in his second game back from suspension. 

49ers fans, are you excited to see Malik Mustapha back on the field?

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