49ers S Malik Mustapha could miss the start of the season with a knee injury, AP source says
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — San Francisco 49ers safety Malik Mustapha re-injured a torn ligament in his right knee last season and could miss the start of the 2025 campaign.
Mustapha originally tore his ACL in January 2022 while in college at Wake Forest. He took a cleat to the knee in the season finale against Arizona on Jan. 5 and an MRI taken after that determined that he had torn a graft that had been placed in the knee after the original surgery, a person familiar with the situation said Saturday. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team hadn't announced any details.
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USA Today
27 minutes ago
- USA Today
Isaiah Adams appears to be on track to be Arizona Cardinals' starting right guard
Isaiah Adams appears to be on track to be Arizona Cardinals' starting right guard After starting the final five games of last season, the 2024 third-round draft pick seems to be the plan at right guard. One of the positional questions for the Arizona Cardinals in their starting lineup is at right guard. Will Hernandez remains a free agent and perhaps could return after he has fully recovered from his torn ACL, but we do appear to have some answers for the position. Manning the first-team right guard position is 2024 third-round pick Isaiah Adams. While head coach Jonathan Gannon has not said that specifically, we do have references to it. Starting center Hjalte Froholdt, who spoke to reporters after Wednesday's practice, referred to the offensive line's need to be consistent, whether it is with "Evan and Isaiah right now, or if someone else comes in there." Evan is, of course, Evan Brown, their starting left guard. Isaiah would be Isaiah Adams. Froholdt is happy with what Adams has done so far. Adams started the final five games of the season at right guard, and Froholdt noted how important that experience was for him. "I think Zay has done a tremendous job," he said. "I think he got thrown a little bit into the fire last year, and what better way than just to get tossed in there. It's the best. You make some mistakes and learn from it, so I think that having those opportunities last year has made him such a better player this year." Froholdt continued. "He's a big strong dude. It's nice being in there with him. He plays long. He's smart. He's good to communicate. He understands it, so it's been really good to see what Isaiah has been doing so far." While one might say that it is only minicamp, this is true, and things could change. However, In each of the last two offseasons under Gannon as head coach, they have identified their first-team offensive line in the offseason program to get them working together with consistency and chemistry. In 2023, when left guard was a question, Elijah Wilkinson was with the first team and started the games when he was healthy. Last year, after they signed Brown and it was uncertain where he would play after being a starting center and starting right guard for the previous three seasons for the Detroit Lions and Seattle Seahawks, he was put in immediately at left guard and he played almost every snap of the season there. So having Adams at right guard now is a good sign that he is pegged as the team's starter for the regular season. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
Rising American Cricketer Sanjay Krishnamurthi Set To Be Homegrown Hero For San Francisco
San Francisco Unicorns batter Sanjay Krishnamurthi is an American cricketer on the rise. Three years ago, Sanjay Krishnamurthi was high in the terraces of the iconic Coliseum amid a rabid Athletics fanbase soaking in MLB action with the stunning Oakland Hills in the background. Back then the starry-eyed teenager was in the very early stages of being a professional cricketer having made his international debut for the U.S. in an One-Day International against Oman in September 2021. However, the febrile atmosphere left Krishnamurthi feeling somewhat melancholy as he dreamt of playing cricket, a global bat and ball sport but relatively invisible in the congested sports market of the U.S, in such surroundings. 'I remember thinking if only cricket can get to this level in the U.S. that would be amazing,' Krishnamurthi told me in an interview. On Thursday, the recently turned 22-year-old Krishnamurthi will step onto the hallowed Coliseum turf as a member of San Francisco Unicorns in the much-hyped Major League Cricket's season launch against defending champions Washington Freedom. After the MLC's first two seasons were consigned to Dallas and Morrisville, North Carolina, the match represents Unicorns' first official home ground with more than 12,000 fans expected to attend. Playing at such a treasured site is considered a game-changer for the well-heeled MLC and cricket's exposure in the U.S. It is currently only a one-season arrangement with the Coliseum to host three home Unicorns games and nine overall. But the development made a widespread splash with the announcement widely reported, including in The New York Times, Axios and mainstream media in the Bay Area. 'The Coliseum has such a rich history and to think that we're playing there is really cool,' said Krishnamurthi,who will be playing his second season of MLC. 'I'm so excited to be playing in front of home fans and also my friends and family.' There are big dreams for cricket in the U.S, with the sport to end its 128-year Olympic drought at the Los Angeles Games. But the initial steps have been rather modest. Cricket will be played at the LA Olympics (Photo by INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP via Getty Images) The long-awaited arrival of MLC, along with hosting big events such as last year's T20 World Cup and playing at the Coliseum, has hoped to introduce the sport to those who only know cricket as a pesky insect or confuse it for that other rather quaint well-to-do British sport - croquet. 'I told my eye doctor recently that I'm playing in a cricket tournament and she said 'I heard they are playing at the Oakland Coliseum',' Krishnamurthi said. "She's East Asian, so you wouldn't expect her to have heard of cricket. I think that was pretty cool. 'One of my friends saw my face on some Unicorns branding selling rice at a grocery store,' he added amid a chuckle. 'So people start seeing that around and that just means awareness is growing.' While MLC has been able to reel in top players from powerhouse cricket nations such as Australia and England, giving it heft and pizzazz amid a saturated cricket circuit, its ultimate success in the U.S. will be determined by creating hometown heroes. Major League Cricket has brought in many top cricketers from around the world (AP Photo/LM Otero) Hard-hitting, spinning allrounder Krishnamurthi fits the bill having been passed on the love of cricket from his India-born father. While his schoolmates were more interested in shooting hoops, throwing a football or pitching, Arizona-raised Krishnamurthi was obsessed with cricket and his skills developed quickly after he moved to India with his parents as an eight-year-old. Krishnamurthi eventually returned to the U.S. seeking greater playing opportunities and also to study computer science at San Jose State University, where most of his classmates are seemingly oblivious that they hit the books with an international cricketer. 'I think most of my classmates have no idea,' Krishnamurthi laughed. "But after last MLC, the university posted a pretty nice article on me on their main page. 'I think that gave me a little bit of attention within the university, but yeah…still pretty anonymous.' While he eyes batting in the top-order, Krishnamurthi is making his mark for the U.S. in international cricket at No.7 in the finisher role. In what is arguably the hardest role in the batting-order in white-ball cricket, Krishnamurthi's power-hitting and ability to clear the boundaries makes him a natural. He posted his first international half-century in last month's ODI against Canada in Lauderhill, Florida, followed by an unbeaten 40 off 27 against Oman marked by a trio of huge sixes. Sanjay Krishnamurthi has starred for U.S. recently (Photo by Chris Arjoon/Icon Sportswire via Getty ... More Images) 'Last winter I went to India and I did a lot of work on my power hitting,' Krishnamurthi said. "I'm embracing it. I do feel like I have that power element in my game that I can come down the order and that's what they (the U.S. hierarchy) see in me. 'But I'm hoping to eventually bat up the order and get to face a few more balls.' Krishnamurthi's cavalier batting is set to make him a fan favorite in the MLC and he looms as a key cog in Unicorns' line-up, boosted by a slew of recruits including young Australian internationals Cooper Connolly and Xavier Bartlett. The fledgling MLC has already proven invaluable experience for American players, who are sponges when mingling with some of the biggest stars of the sport. Last season, Krishnamurthi rubbed shoulders with legendary Australia captain Pat Cummins and dynamic Australia batter Josh Inglis, whose inventive batting has become a prototype in the shorter formats. 'Pat's so simple with his mindset and super prepared that he takes the emotions out of it once he has bowled the ball. I found that so insightful,' Krishnamurthi said of Cummins, who is not playing MLC this season due to international commitments. 'Josh was pretty incredible because he accesses areas that I can't even think of accessing with his reverse flicks and scoops, so he's a batter that I really tried to learn from.' Krishnamurthi will enter the season full of confidence and a breakout looms for an emerging cricketer who could soon find himself in demand on the T20 franchise circuit. Flamboyant but mature - Krishnamurthi's is also starting to handle with ease his growing media commitments - the talented youngster might just be the tonic American cricket needs to start making waves at home and beyond. 'We hope to one day win a World Cup and that can be a reality because there are a lot of talented cricketers in the U.S,' he said. "We just need more exposure and that will help us get better. 'The MLC gives us a chance to mix it with some of the best players in the world and I'm excited to try to help Unicorns win the title.'
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
49ers Trent Williams Addresses Potential Retirement
49ers Trent Williams Addresses Potential Retirement originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The San Francisco 49ers began mandatory minicamp Tuesday, and to no surprise, left tackle superstar Trent Williams was a full participant. Advertisement Some rumors swirled after Williams was absent from the team workouts earlier this offseason, but the veteran lineman attended the last couple days of OTAs to quiet the noise. He is under contract, a proven leader in the locker room, and is reportedly in good health, so there shouldn't be much to worry about. He hardly comes to OTAs anyway, so an appearance - however late - is actually some nice progress. One thing that could worry Niners Nation, however, is Williams' longevity at such a crucial position like his. The two have had tremendous success thus far, but Williams won't be able to protect quarterback Brock Purdy's blindside for his entire career- which after the QB's big-time contract extension, many believe will remain in the Bay Area. Williams, who will turn 37 next month, is entering his 15th NFL season. For the average player, this is multiple lifetimes. Even for a future Hall of Famer like Williams is, 15 years is quite a while. Not to mention that offensive line is among the toughest places to play because of the physical demand... Trent is a veteran's veteran to say the least. Advertisement Still, his play hasn't slowed down, with three First Team All-Pros in the last four years as proof. But Father Time is speeding up. So, what does Williams have to say about this eventual twilight of his career? Not much. 'I just feel like I do myself and my teammates a disservice if I'm looking toward the end,' Williams said, via 'I'm paid. People count on me to be here now. We've got goals and aspirations as a team. I just don't think putting brain power toward that helps us get to where we want to go." For the 49ers, "where they want to go" looks a lot different than where they ended up last season. San Francisco fell to the bottom of the NFC West the season after a Super Bowl appearance. Williams himself only appeared in 10 games, which matches a career-low. Advertisement There are a lot of things to improve on in 2025, so Williams' retirement has been pushed far back in the closet of his mind. 'When [retirement] happens, it happens," he said. "I think, one day, coming in, I should know when it's getting that time, and then, I do the responsible thing and let them know early enough so that they can make the adjustments needed.' That day is unknown at the moment, but what we do know is that Williams is under contract for two more seasons, including this upcoming one. After 2026, he will be going on 39 years old. 40, at least right now, could be within reach. 'I would love to make it into that special group, but if it's not in my cards,' he said. 'I'm going to do everything physically possible. I'm going to stay engaged. Advertisement 'It's one of them things to where I'm going to do everything possible to play as long [as I can], and to put a good product of football out there, and then, when it's not going my way, then I'll know. But I could play until I'm 41. Who knows?" Best news of all for 49ers fans? He's fueled up with motivation. "I'm definitely not going to retire with some left in the tank." Trent Williams wants to go "until the wheels fall off". And there are a lot of miles left in those tires. Related: 49ers' Brock Purdy Has Huge MVP Opportunity in 2025 Related: 49ers WR Retires to Pursue Film Career This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
