49ers place Talanoa Hufanga on IR ahead of Week 6 showdown against Seahawks – NBC Sports Bay Area & California

The 49ers and Seattle Seahawks are both dealing with injury issues as they head into a Thursday Night Football game at Lumen Field.

The 49ers expected safety Talanoa Hufanga, who suffered ligament damage in the team’s Week 5 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, and kicker Jake Moody, who suffered a sprained ankle to be sidelined for several weeks. Both players were candidates for injured reserve, and the 49ers officially made one of the moves on Wednesday, placing Hufanga on IR, holding him out for the next four games.

Defensive lineman Jordan Elliott (knee) and linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (calf) will also miss Thursday night’s contest, but in even better news, both linebacker George Kittle and linebacker Fred Warner are injury free and will play.

Wide receiver Chris Conley, who missed the Week 5 game with an oblique injury, is listed as questionable, along with cornerback Sharvarius Ward, who suffered a knee contusion on Sunday.

Below is the full injury report for both teams:

49ers

outside

DT Jordan Elliott (knee)

LB Demetrius Flannigan Fowles (calf)

S Talanoa Hufanga (wrist)

KJ Jake Moody (right ankle)

questionable

WR Chris Conley (oblique)

CB Charvarius Ward (knee)

Seahawks

outside

DT Byron Murphy II (hamstring)

CB Rick Woolen (ankle)

questionable

Ol’ Boy Muffy (Knee)

OLB Derek Hall (foot)

S Julian Love (hamstring)

For the Seahawks, several key defenders will miss the game during the shortened week, including the aforementioned players and outside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu, who is expected to be placed on injured reserve with a hip injury.

San Francisco defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen will rely on Malik Mustafa at safety in Hufanga’s place. The rookie has appeared in five games – one as a starter and has impressed coach Kyle Shanahan with his aggressive tendencies, but recognizes the need for continued growth for the young defenseman.

“I think communication is one of the hardest things, especially for a young guy coming in,” Shanahan said Tuesday. “I think he’s getting better at that the more he’s out there. I think just his lack of hesitation. And when he came in, he did the same things. I think he’s getting faster every week.” And he just recognizes things and doesn’t break down and try to run through his tackles.

Newly signed kicker Matthew Wright will take over the kicking duties and the 49ers will likely promote a few defensive linemen from the practice squad to play alongside Malik Collins and Kalia Davis. Both TY McGill and rookie Evan Anderson could see playing time Thursday night.

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