The San Francisco 49ers are facing a challenging stretch as the 2024 NFL season approaches, with the recent announcement of defensive tackle Kalia Davis being sidelined for a significant portion of the season due to a knee injury.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan revealed on Monday that Davis, a third-year player, sustained the injury during Saturday’s preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans. The injury, which will require surgery, is reportedly located behind the kneecap, and Davis is expected to be out for at least half of the season.
Davis, who turned 25 this year, was a sixth-round draft pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. He missed his rookie season after suffering a torn ACL in college but worked diligently to return to form throughout the 2022 season. His hard work paid off in 2023 when he made his NFL debut, appearing in three games and recording his first career sack against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 13.
The 2024 preseason had been promising for Davis until the unfortunate injury. In Saturday’s game against the Titans, he demonstrated his potential with a notable performance, including one sack and two tackles for loss. However, the injury cut his strong showing short, and he now faces another knee surgery. Shanahan expressed disappointment over the situation, highlighting that Saturday’s game was among Davis’s best. “It was really unfortunate. He played awesome the whole game, and that’s why we were surprised he had such an unfortunate injury,” Shanahan said.
Despite the setback, the 49ers remain optimistic about Davis’s potential return. Shanahan indicated that the team plans on having Davis back at some point this season, with hopes for his contribution during a possible playoff run. “We plan on Kalia being around here, and we plan on him coming back and helping us this year,” Shanahan added.
In addition to Davis’s injury, the 49ers are also dealing with other injury concerns. Offensive lineman Jon Feliciano is dealing with knee soreness, and cornerback Isaac Yiadom rolled his ankle during a walkthrough last week. Both players are expected to miss at least another week of preseason action.
On a more positive note, safety Talanoa Hufanga is making progress in his recovery from ACL surgery. Shanahan mentioned that Hufanga will meet with doctors this week to discuss his recovery and potential return to practice, offering a glimmer of hope amid the team’s injury struggles.
