Injuries have been the Achilles heel for the San Francisco 49ers in 2025, but they got some major news in a positive way this week: safety Malik Mustapha is back and ready to return.
Mustapha, who tore his ACL in the season finale last season, had his practice window opened this week, and head coach Kyle Shanahan said he will play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this weekend.
It was Mustapha’s second ACL tear to the same knee, so he was expected to have a lengthy recovery. But, after one week of practice, he has impressed the coaching staff and is ready to make his season debut in Week 6.
“He has worked as hard as any player I’ve seen in my life with attacking a rehab,” head coach Kyle Shanahan told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco. “He should get unbelievable rewards for that. The work he put in, this has been his first week with us that he’s been allowed to practice, but you can tell the work he’s put in [while] away because he’s ready to go.
“He’s conditioned. He’s prepped through all this stuff mentally and physically. He’s had a hell of a week at practice, but we also have to be smart with him. This is his first game getting out so we can’t just throw him to the wolves and let him play like we know he’s gonna play. We’ll mix him in there, and it’s pretty good to have that because we have three other dudes who can play there as well.”
In a few days, Mustapha has already impressed defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, who is excited to unleash the safety when the time comes.
“His tape from last year is pretty impressive for a rookie,” Saleh said. “Violent, a violent, fast-trigger football player, and I’ve only had a couple days with him now, but he’s made of the right stuff. That’s for damn sure.”
Without Mustapha, the 49ers have mainly played free agent signee Jason Pinnock and fifth-round rookie Marques Sigle at safety, with former third-round pick Ji’Ayir Brown sprinkled in the mix as a big nickel.
Now, San Francisco will get a big boost to the room, and Mustapha doesn’t plan to shy away from his punishing style.
“I didn’t get surgery on my brain, so it’s the same thing,” Mustapha told reporters on Wednesday. “I’m just trying to pick up where I left off, and keep the main thing the main thing. I’m getting back to the swing of things, and once I’m ready to go, I’m ready to go.”
With Mustapha back, the 49ers aren’t forced to play Sigle, who has seen his ups and downs as a rookie, and can instead allow him to develop more before putting him back out there. But, they also have options with all four of their safeties, giving enough depth until Mustapha gets up to speed.
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