Curtis Robinson‘s 2024 campaign has come to an abrupt end. The fourth-year linebacker suffered an ACL tear in practice, head coach Kyle Shanahan said on Friday. 
As a result, Robinson will be sidelined for the remainder of the campaign. The 26-year-old is on track to become an exclusive rights restricted free agent during the spring, but today’s news obviously hurts his chances of being tendered by the 49ers. Robinson has proven to be a key special teams presence during his time in the Bay Area, and his absence will be felt in that regard.
After spending much of his rookie campaign in Denver, Robinson joined the 49ers in a bid to land a full-time spot on the team’s active roster. The former UDFA has gone on to make 12 appearances since, including three this season. San Francisco’s linebacker position is thin as things stand with Dre Greenlaw rehabbing the Achilles tear he suffered in the Super Bowl. Greenlaw is expected to be available around the midway point of the campaign.
In the meantime, Robinson was in position to handle backup defensive duties in addition to his notable third phase responsibilities. His 59 special team snaps lead the team so far this year, so replacing him especially while Greenlaw is sidelined will be challenging. This news marks another blow to the 49ers on the injury front as the team aims to rebound from a 1-2 start.
San Francisco currently ranks 30th in the league in special teams DVOA, so that unit was already poorly positioned to suffer an injury to one of its top members. Nevertheless, the 49ers will move forward while Robinson’s attention will turn to a lengthy rehab process ahead of free agency and the 2025 campaign.