San Francisco 49ers' latest injury setback all but confirms rookie's status as a year-one starter

Jon Feliciano was a crucial part of the San Francisco 49ers' run to the Super Bowl last season, and his injury in that game was a telling blow in San Francisco's overtime defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs.

The 49ers almost certainly won't have Feliciano out there to the start the 2024 season, but his absence is unlikely to be considered as big of a blow as it was in the Super Bowl.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan revealed in his Tuesday press conference that Feliciano, who has been dealing with knee irritation, is likely to open the season on injured reserve after undergoing surgery.

Not having the versatile veteran, who started at right guard down the stretch and in the postseason in the previous campaign but also has the ability to fill in at center, is undoubtedly a setback.

But the impact of Feliciano's absence is significantly mitigated by the emergence of third-round rookie Dominick Puni , who has taken all the first-team reps at right guard in training camp amid the injuries to Feliciano and fellow guard Spencer Burford .

Puni has allowed just one pressure over the course of two preseason games and already appeared to be the favorite to start as a rookie.

News of Feliciano's surgery all but confirms Puni's status as the starter, even with Burford set to resume individual work this week after suffering a broken hand that did not require surgery.

With the start of the regular season now three weeks away, time is running out for Burford to get the reps necessary to start and, given how well Puni has played , there is little reason for the 49ers to promote their 2022 fourth-round pick ahead of their rookie.

The most promising prospect of what is already looking like an impressive draft class, the path should now be clear for Puni to make his regular-season debut on Monday Night Football against the New York Jets in Week 1.

Related: Projecting the San Francisco 49ers' 53-man roster ahead of their second preseason game vs. Saints