Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

It was reported on Tuesday San Francisco 49ers left guard Mike Iupati had surgery on his shoulder in the offseason. Iupati will miss some of San Francisco’s upcoming organized team activities. He is expected to be at 100% by the start of training camp.

With news of Iupati going under the knife, he joins outside linebacker Aldon Smith and defensive end Justin Smith as Niner starters who have had offseason surgery.  The good news is all three players will be back to full strength by the start training camp at the end of July.

There is likely a correlation between the news yesterday of the 49ers signing former guard Adam Snyder and Iupati having surgery. Snyder’s signing was insurance not only for Iupati’s recent surgery, but also if any other offensive linemen gets injured from now until the end of the season. Last season, the 49ers were one of three teams who had all five offensive linemen start in all 16 games. San Francisco knows that accomplishment will likely not be repeated in 2013, which is where Snyder comes in.

The Niners will have Snyder compete with guards Daniel Kilgore and Joe Looney for the backup spots on the depth chart. All three could make the team, but the Niners roster will not have many open slots for backups on the O-line. The more likely scenario is the team having Snyder and Kilgore on the active roster, with Looney on the practice squad. The signing of Snyder is more significant with Iupati having surgery because he has started 83 games in his career. Kilgore and Looney have zero combined starts.

Credit: Jason O. Watson-USA TODAY Sports

The San Francisco 49ers are currently involved in contract extension negotiations with three-year guard Mike Iupati. The former No. 17 overall pick of the 2010 draft was named first-team All-Pro last season and also made the Pro Bowl.

Albert Breer from NFL.com tweeted first reported the news of contract negotiations:

One other thing I forgot to mention last week … 49ers have started contract talks with another member of their young core: G Mike Iupati.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) April 15, 2013

Iupati has been instrumental in the 49ers resurgence the last two seasons. He has started every single game the past three seasons for the 49ers, including five-postseason starts. Iupati is considered one of the top guards in the NFL and he excels in blocking in the run game. What makes him so good at left guard is his combination of size (6-foot-5, 331 lbs.), quickness and athleticism. Not only does Iupati plow running lanes for RB Frank Gore and company, but he also protects QB Colin Kaepernick’s blindside on the left side of the offensive line.

Last week, the 49ers awarded right tackle Anthony Davis a five-year, $37.3 million contract extension. Davis was drafted in the same first-round as Iupati, but as the No. 11 overall pick. Davis and Iupati are two of only five players from the 2010 draft class to start every game from 2010-20111.

Locking up Iupati and Davis with new contact extensions is a smart move by general manager Trent Baalke. Both players will have long and successful NFL careers. So making sure you have some of the top linemen in the league signed for the long-term will translate to the 49ers having one of the best offensive lines in the NFL for years to come.

We can expect Iupati to sign at least a five-year deal like Davis, but the money will likely be in the $45-$50 million range. Recently, the Tennessee Titans signed guard Andy Levitre to a six-year, $46.8 million contract. Iupati is more talented than Levitre, so he will likely be looking for a contract extension worth above $46.8 million.

The bye week is officially over 49er  fans as the team returns to the practice field tomorrow! The 49ers  fresh off a blazing 5-1 start that seen the team win in all kinds of ways. The blowout vs. Tampa Bay, the unlikely road comeback after a 20 point deficit to the Eagles and of course the big win vs. the Lions that led to “Shake gate”.

The bye week couldn’t have come at a better time  for the 49ers  after just completing a rigorous yet wildly successful east coast road trip. After the bye week 49er fans may just get to see something we all have yet to see this season. A fully healthy team on the field with plenty of time to rest and heal up.

Wide Receiver Braylon Edwards will return to the field tomorrow and re-join his teammates after missing the last several weeks with a leg injury that required minor surgery. Edwards has been running routes and working on his own in conditioning drills the last couple of weeks, those workouts intensified last week when the 49ers held a mini practice for players who saw less than 15 snaps in the Detroit game in which Braylon was a part of. Coach Jim Harbaugh had this to say about Edwards:

“Good. I got a chance to watch him workout last week, and anticipate seeing him out there tomorrow in practice. Hoping for good things.”

Harbaugh also mentioned that injured fullback Moran Norris may return to practice Tuesday. Although I see that as a possible downgrade  for the team if he comes back and plays over rookie Bruce Miller. Harbaugh stated that he will play the player that gives them the best chance on Sunday. If Jim’s watching the same games I have this season, that guy is Miller all the way.
Page 2: More 49er News and Notes
(more…)