May 9, 2025; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive line tryouts Sebastian Valdez (65), Ali Saad (74), C.J. West (50) and D’Quan Douse (90) wait for their turn at a blocking drill during the team’s rookie minicamp. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images

49ers rookie gets concerning update because of something completely out of his control ahead of the 2025 season

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Adam Holt | Last updated Aug 14, 2025 6:32 PM ET

Injuries during practice or the preseason are always a bummer around the NFL. Teams are trying their best to get ready for the games that count, but getting banged up is always a part of the process. For a San Francisco 49ers rookie, he is now dealing with an ailment because of no fault of his own.

Rookie CJ West dealing with knee injury

According to head coach Kyle Shanahan, rookie defensive tackle CJ West is dealing with a hyperextended knee. The initial scans do not show any ACL damage, which is a good sign - at least.

49ers rookie DT CJ West sustained what appears to be a hyperextended knee, Kyle Shanahan said. It’s similar to Mykel Williams’ injury of last week. The initial diagnosis shows no ACL damage.
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) August 14, 2025

DT CJ West’s left knee buckled and he went down during 1-on-1 pass rush drill. The 49ers’ medical staff checked him out and he was able to walk back on his own for further observation. -- Matt Maiocco

These sort of injuries are always scary. The first thought by fans is some sort of tear, whether the knee is involved or not. Achilles injuries sometimes come from these sort of slip-ups, but that's not the case for the young lineman. Instead, a hyperextended knee is still a concern but doesn't usually come with quite as hefty of a timetable for a return.

West has been a bright spot in training camp and is set to play a role as a rookie along the 49ers DL. As Maiocco notes, first-round edge rusher Mykel Williams is also dealing with a hyperextended knee that he suffered last week in joint practices with the Denver Broncos.

Expect more updates on both players this week. Hopefully, neither will have to miss time during the regular season.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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