Good injury news for 49ers All-Pro Safety after doctor's visit

There aren't many unanswered questions about what the San Francisco 49ers defense will look like in 2024.

They entered the offseason with only one key starting cornerback spot open. Other than that, the defense was mostly solid. One big question mark was when strong safety Talanoa Hufanga would return from a torn ACL. After a doctor's visit Thursday, that return seems more imminent.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters after practice Friday that Hufanga is ready to take the next step in his rehab and incorporate soccer-like movements into his workouts, the step that precedes a return to practice.

This is in line with the original projection for Hufanga, who was expected to return at some point during training camp. It's unclear exactly how much time he needs to prepare for Week 1, but if he can get a few weeks of practice in, that could be enough to ensure he's on the field for the opener against the New York Jets.

On the other hand, the 49ers have enough depth at safety that they don't need to rush it. George Odum started alongside Ji'Ayir Brown in training camp and did an admirable job. San Francisco is in a position where they can easily use Odum for a week or two if they think Hufanga needs that time to get back into shape.

Ultimately, this is good news for Hufanga and the 49ers after he tore his ACL in Week 11 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season. Before his injury, he was an All-Pro in 2022 and on pace for another strong year in 2023. Having him back in the secondary will give the 49ers a couple of playmakers on defense that should help bolster San Francisco's defense.