© Kyle Terada | 2018 Sep 16
Weston Richburg’s future with the 49ers was already in question. His NFL future now reportedly is too.
The 29-year-old center recently underwent hip surgery and has no timetable for return according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Richburg missed all of 2020 with both knee and shoulder issues.
#49ers center Weston Richburg recently had hip surgery, source said, and there is no timetable for his return. After not playing in 2020 due to other injuries and due $8.35M in 2021, it’s likely that he’s played his last down in SF. His future on the field is to be determined.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 3, 2021
Richburg is under contract through next season and is scheduled to make $7.85 million. Already in a cap crunch, Wednesday’s news only increases the likelihood that the 49ers cut Richburg and would save $4.5 million in doing so. Richburg was originally signed to a five-year, $47.5 million deal in 2018.
Richburg’s career has been plagued with injuries, many of which he’s played through. He played 15 games in 2018 while battling injuries to his quadriceps and patellar tendon. He also sustained a severe knee injury at the tail end of 2019.
Losing Richburg would make the 49ers even lighter at the center position. Daniel Brunskill is an early restricted free agent but is likely to re-sign. Ben Garland and Hroniss Grasu are unrestricted free agents. Dekoda Shepley is currently the only healthy center under contract