© Kirby Lee | 2020 Jan 28
Coming off a season where both his body and spirit took a beating, Joe Staley’s future with the 49ers is uncertain.
Unsurprisingly, the left tackle was the subject of one of the first questions general manager John Lynch answered on Monday, in his first conference call with reporters since the coronavirus pandemic effectively shut down the nation. Lynch provided optimism in place of a concrete answer on the future hall of famer.
“We’ve kept in good contact with Joe,” Lynch said. “He’s doing his typical routine down with his family in San Diego working out. We’re encouraged. We’ve heard nothing that would lead us to believe that Joe is not going to play. So we’re encouraged with that. We’ll see where that goes.
“That is something with each and every player, particularly as they get closer. You give them that time that they need. But we are encouraged that Joe will be a part of us, moving forward.”
Here’s what Staley, who has spent all 13 years of his professional career with the 49ers, said after the heartbreaking Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
“You put your heart and soul and your entire life into being a Super Bowl champion and you get toward the end of your career and you realize how rare these opportunities are,” Staley said. “The emotions are still raw and real for me right now.”
Staley is under contract through 2021.