Offensive lineman Matt Hennessy actually ended up playing something of a vital role for the San Francisco 49ers in 2025, although it's unlikely most fans even realized it.
As a reserve for an often banged-up O-line, Hennessy actually got into action for all 17 regular-season games for the Niners last year, starting two of them and appearing on 173 total offensive snaps.
Yet San Francisco opted to make some sweeping changes to the O-line during the offseason, bringing aboard several free agents and using two picks in April's NFL Draft on rookie lineman.
The Dallas Cowboys, meanwhile, inked Hennessy away from the 49ers on the opening day of free agency, although it's unclear how much that transaction influenced the Niners' decision to shake up their O-line depth.
Unfortunately for both Hennessy and the Cowboys, 2026 already turned into a lost cause.
Cowboys place Matt Hennessy on season-ending injured reserve
With Dallas' mandatory minicamp wrapping up, the team website broke the news that Hennessy suffered a neck injury that ultimately required surgery. And while there were hopes he'd be able to return at some point during the upcoming season, the eventual transaction was one that'll end his 2026 campaign:
The 28-year-old recently suffered a neck injury that required surgery to repair, and the initial thought was that he'd simply begin the 2026 season on team's PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) list, but things are worse than initially believed.
As such, the former third-round pick, signed in free agency by the Cowboys in March, will be moved to season-ending injured reserve which, due to his one-year contract, effectively ends his chances at taking a snap in Dallas — barring a re-signing in 2027.
If a player starts the regular season on the PUP list, he'd be ineligible for the first four games of the year but can return thereafter. However, should a player wind up on IR prior to Week 1, it's effectively a season-ending move.
That's the case for Hennessy, who joined San Francisco in December of 2024 and spent all of 2025 in the Bay Area.
One can only hope the lineman is capable of bouncing back from the injury in 2027, wherever he might be at that point.
Hat tip to Mike Masala of Niners Wire for the find.
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