Joe Staley receives 49ers injury settlement heading into retirement

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Joe Staley retired after 13 NFL seasons last weekend, and the 49ers officially parted ways with the veteran left tackle.

But that reportedly might not last long.

The 49ers terminated Staley's contract and he received an injury settlement Friday, the NFL’s transaction wire revealed.

Staley played in just seven regular-season games in 2019, missing time with a broken left fibula as well as a fractured and dislocated finger. The All-Decade tackle said long-term health concerns, including a lingering neck condition, drove him into retirement.

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The 49ers reportedly will re-sign Staley, if only to retain his rights. NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero reported Friday, citing a source, that San Francisco will “eventually” sign Staley and place him on the reserve/retired list. Staley signed a contract extension through 2021 last June, and he will carry a $1 million charge against the 49ers' salary cap since he retired prior to June 1, according to Over The Cap.

Trent Williams, who the 49ers acquired in a trade with Washington, will take Staley’s place on San Francisco’s offensive line. He’ll be the first Week 1 starter at left tackle other than Staley since 2007.

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