49ers activate center Weston Richburg from PUP List

One thing we haven’t touched on is the offensive line’s performance during the preseason. The San Francisco 49ers activated center Weston Richburg from the Active/Physically Unable to perform list on Monday afternoon. The team started practiced at 2 p.m. PT, and Richburg was seen practicing. That makes the third player in a month to come off the PUP list, in addition to Jimmie Ward and Jerick McKinnon. Garrett Celek is the lone player that remains on the PUP list. Richburg may be the most important player yet.

Richburg battled through a knee injury during 2018 that clearly affected his play. He wasn’t the same player as he had been in years past. Richburg underwent knee surgery back in January that had prevented him from practicing until Monday. Even though the injury, Richburg still started 15 games.

The 49ers signed Richburg to a five-year deal in 2018 worth up to $47.5 million. I know his first season left a sour taste in many fans mouthes, but we will see the reason Richburg was signed if he’s fully recovered. For the past month, he’s been working his tail off on the side of practice, often coming out early to get extra work in. He’s a hard worker, and it’s easy to root for Richburg.

I’m looking forward to seeing him play, hopefully as soon as Thursday, in the 49ers preseason finale.

Other injury updates, Dante Pettis (undisclosed) and Jalen Hurd are not practicing today. Neither is Jerick McKinnon. Dee Ford is back, but he isn’t going to play Thursday, per Kyle Shanahan.