Hufanga’s positive aura remains as NFL playoffs near

SANTA CLARA – Welcome to the 49ers’ Letdown Week. Oh wait, that was two months ago, when they lost a Week 6 date in Cleveland after a lopsided win over NFC East contender Dallas. The 49ers Faithful filled this week’s mailbag with questions about both Sunday’s win in Philly and this coming Sunday’s visit by the Seahawks:

Any update on Huf? How’s he doing? (@ashleyd907)

A smiling (as always) Talanoa Hufanga walked through the locker room last week, with a support sleeve on his right knee, which is still awaiting surgery on a torn anterior cruciate ligament. He may be gone from the field but his positive spirit is not.

The 49ers still carry out his postgame ritual, of awarding a player-of-the-game with a kukui-nut necklace, which Deebo Samuel proudly displayed after his career-high three touchdowns Sunday in Philadelphia. Samuel went on to win his third career NFC Player of the Week award Wednesday, though that does not come with a necklace, plaque or prize money.

This team’s bond is reflected by how they honor Hufanga, such as Brandon Aiyuk making a “T” with his arms next to Samuel in Philly postgame to mimic Hufanga’s Tongan tribute. Wooden necklaces, meanwhile, hang from players’ lockers in Santa Clara as prideful keepsakes. They could be this season’s rally cry, the way the “Tony Montana” anthem sparked the 2011 special teams unit, the way the “BoomBoxx” entrance took hold in December 2017, the way “Feels Great, Baby” captured their 2019 Super Bowl run.

Will Logan play vs. the Seahawks? (@emma0tero_)

The 49ers signed safety Logan Ryan on Tuesday, precipitated by their depth issues with injuries to Hufanga and George Odum (knee). Last week, they signed another veteran safety, Erik Harris, and he played Sunday strictly on special teams, which is his specialty (not Ryan’s). Thrusting him into the lineup would be a hard ask when Ryan hasn’t played since last season with the Buccaneers (team-high nine tackles last December at Levi’s Stadium). Look for Ji’Ayir Brown to be coached up on his missed tackles the past two games and remain the starter next to Tashaun Gipson Sr.

Chances on Zach Ertz signing with us being down another tight end? (@the.real.aristotle)

Ross Dwelley’s high ankle sprain could shelve him a few games, creating a vacancy for a pass-catching tight end and inviting a homecoming from Zach Ertz (Monte Vista High-Danville, Stanford). Ertz asked for and was granted his release from the Cardinals last week. He remains a free agent. The 49ers visit the Cardinals next week. Hmmm. Then again, the 49ers already spreading holiday joy with their ample number of playmakers, so there’s no urgency to add him. But that sure sounds more enticing than him reuniting with the Eagles.

Can the 49ers go back to a rested No. 1 Philly team in the NFC Championship and win? (@david581)

You’re suggesting the Eagles’ defense was no match for the 49ers’ open-field brutality because of mere fatigue, which was predictable after a 92-snap workload the previous Sunday against the Bills. I’m suggesting there is much more to the 49ers’ advantage, such as confusing schemes, greater motivation, and, undoubtedly, better players and coaching.

What do you think our end record will be this year? (@bum_knee_man)

The 49ers are 9-3, with five regular-season games remaining – hosting the Seahawks (6-6), at the Cardinals (3-10), hosting the Ravens (9-3), at the Commanders (4-9), and hosting the Rams (6-6). The Niners will be favored in each. Their biggest headache will be their Christmas guests, the AFC-leading Ravens. Sure, 12-3 is doable, and 11-4 might be more realistic. Say they land the No. 1 seed to take a wild-card vacation. That leaves three wins until they cash out in Vegas with a Lombardi Trophy jackpot. End record: 17-3.

Was Greelaw ejected for the tackle or the altercation after? (@Qizlle75)

His suplex tackle prompted the altercation with the Eagles’ security chief, who prompted Greenlaw to take a retaliatory swipe at his face. Was it unfair to eject Greenlaw for it? Bygones. It did prompt this fabulous testimony from Nick Bosa: “Dre has been really the enforcer for this defense since we got here in ’19 and that’s what makes him who he is. So we’re not going to knock him for being him but in that situation, he knows he can’t do that and it was a perfect learning lesson. Down the road, I don’t think he’ll make that mistake again.” A magnet for unnecessary roughness penalties, Greenlaw already had an ejection on his rap sheet, for a helmet-to-helmet hit last year on Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert.

Severity of Arik Amrstead’s injury? Will he be available this week? (@max.cali)