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 w

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