San Francisco 49ers star edge rusher Nick Bosa is expected to miss a few weeks after pulling his calf during a team practice ahead of their Week 3 game against the Arizona Cardinals. The injury leaves the team weighing whether to place the defensive cornerstone on injured reserve.
The hits keep coming for the San Francisco 49ers’ defensive front. Five-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Nick Bosa pulled his calf during Thursday’s practice session, setting up a multi-week absence that sidelines him for Sunday’s NFC West clash against the Arizona Cardinals.
NFL insiders Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport broke the news following a wave of mounting anxiety among team observers. The franchise is actively evaluating whether Bosa needs to be placed on injured reserve, a move that would mandate a minimum four-week recovery window.
Bosa didn’t speak to the media on Sept. 23 and Sept. 24. On Sept. 24, San Francisco 49ers edge rusher Nick Bosa landed on the team’s injury report ahead of their Week 3 game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sept. 27. The report also notes that Bosa is dealing with injuries to his knee and calf. Bosa also missed Wednesday’s practice, but that was a scheduled rest day. The 2022 Defensive Player of the Year missed most of last season due to a torn ACL he suffered in the Week 3 win over the Arizona Cardinals, whom the 49ers will face in their third game of the season this Sunday. Bosa did play in the Week 1 opener in Australia and in the Week 2 win over the Miami Dolphins.
Insider Speculation and Late Injury Reports Sparked Early Concern
Anxiety surrounding Bosa’s health began bubbling up before any official team confirmation, fueled by an unusually late injury report release. NBC Sports Bay Area reporter Jennifer Lee Chan took to a livestream on her YouTube channel to voice deep concern after noticing Bosa was missing from open media availability.
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I’m very pessimistic about what this outcome could be,Lee Chan said in a Sept. 24 livestream on her YouTube channel.
… It doesn't feel good. My spidey sense is saying that this is a serious injury for Nick Bosa, and if he's not out for the season, he's out for multiple weeks.
While initial fears leaned toward a potential major setback—particularly given that Bosa is coming off a torn ACL in the 49ers’ third game last season—subsequent reporting confirmed that Bosa did sustain an injury to his calf during practice and will miss some time going forward. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Five-time Pro Bowl DE Nick Bosa pulled his calf during Thursday's practice and now is expected to miss 'a few weeks', including Sunday's game vs. the Cardinals, sources tell me and @RapSheet.
The report added niners officials are still figuring out whether or not Bosa needs to be placed on injured reserve.
Thinning Defensive Depth Leaves 49ers Scrambling
The timing of Bosa’s injury stretches a roster already battered by early-season attrition to its absolute limits. Not including Bosa’s situation, the 49ers already lead the NFL with 15 players currently on injured reserve, as well as two players on the physically unable to perform list.
The defensive line has absorbed the brunt of these medical setbacks. Starting defensive tackle Alfred Collins is out for the season with a torn patellar tendon, and defensive linemen Sam Okuayinonu (foot) and CJ West (knee) are on injured reserve. The group includes five defensive linemen — Alfred Collins, CJ West, Sam Okuayinonu, Andrew Farmer and Mikail Kamara. De’Zhuan Stribling is out for 10 weeks, Demarcus Robinson is out for a while, Ricky Pearsall is going to miss the season, and there are plenty of others hurt.
Keion White and Khalid Kareem are the two healthy defensive ends and will need to step up as the injury report remains long. Mykel Williams, the No. 11 pick in the 2025 NFL draft, is on the physically unable to perform list as he continues his recovery.
An IR stint for Bosa would keep him out for at least four weeks. If the 49ers were to make a move prior to Sunday’s matchup with the Arizona Cardinals, the earliest he could return is Week 7 against the Atlanta Falcons. The 49ers’ bye is in Week 8, which could factor into their strategy if it’s determined Bosa needs to go injured reserve. The team’s next four games are against the Cardinals, Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders.
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