Another day, another nugget of bad news along the San Francisco 49ers’ injury front. This time, The Athletic’s Michael Silver reported that safety Talanoa Hufanga was initially thought to miss the rest of the season.

That is, until Hufanga’s agent, Chris Cabott, heard of this and pushed back. Silver updated the report of an alternative: Hufanga is going to try playing this season with a cast.

Hufanga was out the first four weeks of the 2024 season, recovering from an ACL tear the prior year. He returned in Week 5 against the Arizona Cardinals for a brief moment before suffering torn wrist ligaments and getting put back on the injury report.

While you’re probably wondering when the last time the 49ers had a player wearing a cast on the field, the more interesting question is: how is that going to work? Sure, Hufanga can missle around the field and make tackles, but a cast isn’t exactly going to help someone catch the ball. While a linebacker or even a defensive lineman could get away with it, how a safety is going to pick the ball off might be interesting.

Then again, Shaquem Griffin (former Seattle Seahawks linebacker) made a brief career playing without a hand at all, so I’m sure Hufanga can make this work.

Regardless of functionality, anytime medical devices are in use, play could suffer. You may remember the 2012 49ers and Justin Smith tearing his tricep in the New England Patriots game. Afterward, they found a way to get him back on the field, albeit with his arm in a brace. Sure, he could play, but his productivity took a hit, and he was a large part of the defense’s issues in the Super Bowl loss against the Baltimore Ravens.

Regardless of functionality, the 49ers would at least not have a severe hit at depth had he been listed out.