Mustapha (knee) is active for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers, Briana Jeannel of the 49ers' official site reports.
Mustapha is ready to make his 2025 debut after fully recovering from a torn ACL that he suffered in January. With how well rookie fifth-rounder Marques Sigle has been playing this season, Mustapha may work in a rotational role in the secondary and on special teams in his return.
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49ers' Malik Mustapha: Activated off IR
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The 49ers activated Mustapha (knee) off injured reserve Saturday.
Mustapha is closer to making his return after recovering from a torn ACL. While he remains questionable for Sunday's game versus Tampa Bay, the 23-year-old should serve as a depth defensive back and can also contribute on special teams if he ends up playing.
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49ers' Malik Mustapha: Logs full session
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Mustapha (knee) practiced fully Wednesday, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Mustpaha is recovering from a torn ACL and had his practice window opened Monday. He has three weeks to be activated from injured reserve, so while his full practice participation is a positive sign, it's not indicative that Mustapha will be ready for his season debut in Week 6 against Tampa Bay.
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49ers' Malik Mustapha: Practice window opened
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The 49ers opened Mustapha's (knee) 21-day practice window to return from the reserve/PUP list.
Mustapha is ready to take the next step in his recovery from a knee injury that he suffered in January, which caused him to open the 2025 regular season on the PUP list. Mustapha will return to practice this week and could be reinstated from the PUP list ahead of Sunday's game against the Buccaneers, though that will depend on his participation level in practice. The 2024 fourth-rounder logged 72 tackles (32 solo) and five pass defenses (including one interception) across 16 regular-season games during his rookie season.
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49ers' Malik Mustapha: Lands on PUP list
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Mustapha (knee) was placed on the reserve/PUP list Tuesday.
Mustapha excelled with the 49ers as a fourth-round rookie in 2024, as he generated 72 tackles (32 solo), five pass breakups and an interception across 16 games (12 starts). He underwent surgery following the season to repair a torn graft in his knee that was related to the torn ACL he suffered in 2022 at Wake Forest. Mustapha will miss at least the first four games of the season, and the 49ers brought in Jason Pinnock (heel) from the Giants to serve as the starting free safety in the meantime. Mustapha will have an opportunity to reclaim the starting gig upon return.
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49ers' Malik Mustapha: May miss start of season
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Mustapha may miss the beginning of the 2025 season due to a knee injury he suffered in Week 17 last year, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Mustapha underwent surgery to repair a torn graft in his knee after he was cleated in the final regular-season game of his rookie campaign. The Wake Forest product tore his ACL back in 2022, and these two injuries were related. Mustapha started 12 regular-season games as a rookie and posted 72 tackles (32 solo), five pass breakups and an interception. The 49ers are hoping for a midseason return, at which point he'll look to reclaim the starting role. In the meantime, Richie Grant and Jason Pinnock are candidates to start at strong safety.
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49ers' Malik Mustapha: Exits Week 18 game with knee issue
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Mustapha (knee) is questionable to return to Sunday's clash against the Cardinals, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Mustapha was hurt in the first half and was deemed questionable to return shortly before halftime. The rookie safety has become a key part of San Francisco's secondary, starting 12 of the past 13 games for which he's been active. Ji'Ayir Brown and Tashaun Gipson will likely be asked to log more defensive snaps while Mustapha remains sidelined.
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49ers' Malik Mustapha: Past chest injury
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Mustapha (chest) has no injury designation ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Dolphins, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Mustapha upgraded to full practice Friday after opening the week with consecutive limited sessions, so it appears he's moved past his chest injury in time to suit up in Week 16. With 2022 First-Team All-Pro Talanoa Hufanga back from injury, Mustapha is likely to serve as the 49ers' top reserve safety Sunday.
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49ers' Malik Mustapha: Still nursing chest injury
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Mustapha (chest) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice.
Mustapha was unable to play against the Rams this past Thursday due to a chest injury. His limited participation in Wednesday's practice indicates that he is progressing through his recovery, and he'll have two more chances to increase his activity ahead of Sunday's game against Miami.
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49ers' Malik Mustapha: Ruled out for Thursday
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Mustapha (chest) has been ruled out ahead of Thursday night's matchup against the Rams, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Mustapha likely sustained a chest injury in the 49ers' blowout win over the Bears in Week 14, and after closing the week of practice with a DNP on Wednesday, he'll be sidelined for Thursday night's divisional matchup. Expect Talanoa Hufanga, who just returned from injured reserve last week, to start opposite Ji'Ayir Brown as part of San Francisco's top safety duo in Week 15.
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49ers' Malik Mustapha: Nursing chest injury
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Mustapha (chest) was estimated as a limited practice participant on Monday's injury report, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Even though Talanoa Hufanga (wrist) returned from injured reserve before Sunday's game against the Bears, Mustapha still got the start at strong safety and finished with five tackles (two solo) while playing 45 defensive snaps in the 38-13 win. However, Mustapha appears to have picked up a chest injury in the process, which earned him a limited tag on Monday's estimation. His practice participation over the next two days will determine his availability for Thursday's NFC West clash against the Rams.
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49ers' Malik Mustapha: Seven tackles vs. Tampa Bay
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Mustapha finished Sunday's 23-20 win over the Buccaneers with seven tackles (two solo).
Mustapha was questionable to play Sunday due to a calf issue that limited him in practice. However, that didn't appear to bother the rookie fourth-round pick, as he played every single defensive snap for the third time this season and tied De'Vondre Campbell and Deommodore Lenoir for second-most tackles behind Fred Warner (nine). Through the first nine games of the regular season, Mustapha has logged 37 tackles (15 solo) and four pass defenses (including one interception).
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49ers' Malik Mustapha: Dealing with calf issue
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Mustapha was a limited participant in practice Thursday due to a calf injury.
This is the first word of a calf issue for Mustapha, who practiced in full during the 49ers' first session of the week Wednesday. The rookie has been a key part of San Francisco's secondary this season, tallying 30 tackles (13 solo) and an interception through eight contests. Mustapha played 100 percent of the team's defensive snaps in Week 8 against Dallas prior to the 49ers' Week 9 bye, and if he's not able to suit up Sunday against Tampa Bay, George Odum or Tashaun Gipson -- the latter of whom was signed to the practice squad Tuesday -- could be called upon to start.
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49ers' Malik Mustapha: Cleared for Sunday
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Mustapha (ankle) is not on the injury report for Sunday's game against the Chiefs, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Mustapha suffered a low-ankle sprain in a Week 6 Thursday night win over Seattle and wasn't able to return after the injury, but he should be back on the field as San Francisco takes on the Chiefs at home. The starting safety has 13 tackles (seven solo) and three passes defended, including one interception, so far this season.
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49ers' Malik Mustapha: Ruled out
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Mustapha (ankle) will not return to Thursday's game against the Seahawks, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
The safety made two tackles, including one for a loss, and intercepted a pass before exiting. George Odum should finish out the game in Mustapha's stead at safety Thursday.
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49ers' Malik Mustapha: Questionable to return Thursday
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Mustapha (ankle) is questionable to return to Thursday's game against the Seahawks, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
The safety recorded two tackles, including one for a loss, and an interception before exiting. Mustapha played on more than 80 percent of the defensive snaps in each of the 49ers' previous two games. George Odum is the next man up at safety.
