49ers Okuayinonu breaks foot, lands on IR

San Francisco 49ers defensive end Sam Okuayinonu will undergo surgery for a broken foot and has been placed on injured reserve, sidelining him for at least the first four weeks of the 2026 season. The injury occurred during the team's final practice before their departure for Australia, where they are scheduled to face the Los Angeles Rams in Week 1. Head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed the severity of the injury on Monday, September 7, 2026, explaining that Okuayinonu stepped on his foot during a practice session, causing it to break. The foot had a pre-existing plate from an earlier injury. "It was a bad injury," Shanahan stated. "Hopefully, we can get him back later in the year, but it was a real tough loss." Okuayinonu, 28, joined the 49ers in 2024 and became an increasingly significant contributor. In the 2025 season, he appeared in 15 games, starting 12, and recorded 39 total tackles, six tackles for loss, three sacks, and a forced fumble. His absence tests the team's defensive line depth, particularly as other key players are also managing injuries. The 49ers have moved to fill his roster spot by signing Khalid Kareem from the practice squad.