Weston

Richburg

Richburg is still only 29 years old but has been absolutely rocked by injuries since 2018. He missed all of 2020 with a knee issue before undergoing offseason hip surgery. His body has been through enough. The No. 43 overall pick of the 2014 Draft, Richburg had some decent years with the Giants. He was not as effective in San Francisco. Considering Richburg’s age, a comeback will be a possibility for a few years if he gets back to full health.

The move saves $6.9 million. Coming off hip surgery, Richburg was a release candidate this offseason, but this lowers his cap hit for the 49ers. There’s still a chance 30-year-old Richburg’s hip injury sends him to retirement.

Hampered by a range of injuries since 2018, Richburg was a long shot to return to the Niners in 2021. Now his career looks to be in some question after the serious hip injury and subsequent surgery. His release would clear $4.5 million in cap space for the 49ers, a number that jumps to $7.9 million if he’s designated a post-June 1 cut. The veteran has no injury protections in his contract.

Signed to a five-year deal in the 2018 offseason, injuries have limited Richburg to 13 games over the past two seasons. Zero of those came in 2020. His release would clear $4.5 million in cap space, a number that jumps to $7.9 million if he’s designated a post-June 1 cut. With Richburg going on 30, we would assume it will be a no-brainer move in this cap-strapped year.

It means 29-year-old Richburg will miss the entire season after tearing his patellar tendon last Week 14. Devastating. The Niners have been forced to mix and match with Ben Gardland and Hroniss Grasu at the pivot this season. Richburg is due $7.85 million in 2021, a number that will surely be amended, if not erased from the books.

Richburg is 10 months removed from a torn patellar tendon. It’s not a surprise he hasn’t been cleared to practice, but the 49ers should get him back in the second half of the season. Richburg is more likely to return in Weeks 10-12.

Richburg is still only eight months removed from tearing his patellar tendon, one of the most serious knee injuries a football player can suffer. NBC Sports Bay Area expects Richburg to miss “at least” six weeks. 2019 fill-in Ben Garland should once again man the pivot in Richburg’s absence. Richburg is one of the league’s better centers, so it’s a non-trivial blow.

The Niners had been “hopeful” their pivot would avoid PUP, but that was always going to be difficult as Richburg returns from a torn patellar tendon. Richburg said in February that he was eyeing an August return. With no preseason, the Niners have zero reason to rush Richburgh’s return. At least for now, Week 1 still appears to be realistic. Richburg is one of the better centers in the league.

The Niners added OL Ben Garland on a one-year, $805,000 contract this offseason as insurance in case Richburg isn’t cleared. Lynch also said he’s confident Dan Brunskill can play all five spots on the offensive line if need be. Richburg was PFF’s No. 11 pass-blocking center among 31 qualifiers at the time of his injury last year, so it remains crucial he’s healthy for the regular season despite any perceived backup plans. He’ll be 29 in June.

“I’ll miss the offseason stuff but training camp should be a go.” Returning from a torn patellar tendon is an uphill battle, but Richburg remains optimistic. He’ll be entering his age-29 season assuming he gets back up to speed by September and will likely face competition for the starting spot. Richburg was PFF’s No. 11 pass-blocking center among 31 qualifiers at the time of his injury last season, so he’s an asset if healthy.