San Francisco 49ers linebacker Parys Haralson missed the entirety of the team’s run to the Super Bowl last season after suffering a torn triceps in the preseason. The injury landed Haralson on injured reserve ending his season before it could get started.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh wished, in retrospect, the team had placed their one injured reserve return designation on Haralson as he would have been able to contribute by season’s end and the 49ers didn’t use the designation on another player.
Now Haralson is working his way back onto the field with the 49ers. He signed a one-year contract with the team in March and is looking to become a contributor once again for the 49ers.
“You’re always looking to do that,” Haralson said, via the team’s official website. “In this sport, you’re a competitor and you compete to make plays. I know what I’m able to do.”
Haralson stayed around the team throughout the team and tried to help in whatever way he could. He wasn’t able to help the team prepare on the field but he tried to lend a hand in other ways. Now he’s ready to get back to helping the team he’s made 68 starts for since 2007 between the lines.
“Anytime you can get back to what you love doing, it’s always a good thing,” Haralson said. “You take things how they are. It’s unfortunate what happened last year, but being able to stay with the team and be around them, it’s what kept me into it.
“I feel like it helped me pick up where I left off.”
Haralson participated in the 49ers’ offseason workouts and will be a welcome addition back to the team’s defensive unit. With the losses the 49ers have had to free agency (Dashon Goldson, Isaac Sopoaga) and injury (Michael Crabtree), the 49ers will be happy to see the return of a capable player to their lineup.