49ers Defensive Line Crisis
San Francisco 49ers Star Nick Bosa Sidelined Weeks With Calf Injury
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Key Points
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Bosa was initially listed Wednesday as resting, with a knee designation, but after he missed Thursday’s practice the team’s report added a calf injury. The extent of the calf issue—and the status of his knee—was still unclear in the reporting.
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Several of San Francisco’s defensive-line injuries occurred in practice rather than during games: Sam Okuayinonu broke his foot at an early-September practice, and Alfred Collins suffered a season-ending knee injury during practice in Melbourne. CJ West was set to undergo surgery for a knee bone chip.
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Kyle Shanahan said the team was weighing which players to put on injured reserve because it could “run out” of return-from-IR slots, explaining why the team was assessing the timing carefully.
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The injury situation extended beyond the defensive line: wide receiver Ricky Pearsall and tight end Jake Tonges were also listed among San Francisco’s season-ending losses.
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Before the calf injury, Bosa had recorded five quarterback pressures in the Week 2 win, leading the team in that game; the San Francisco Chronicle also reported that his 69 snaps through two weeks led the team’s edge-rusher group.
San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa will miss multiple weeks with a calf injury sustained during practice, ruling him out of Sunday's game against Arizona. Reuters reported the star pass rusher is expected to sideline for several weeks, adding to a defensive-line injury crisis that has already sidelined multiple linemen.
The 49ers are weighing whether to place Bola on injured reserve, according to NFL Trade Rumors, but face a roster crunch with 15 players already on IR. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said the team is carefully timing return-from-IR slots because it could "run out" of those designations.NFL Trade Rumors
Bosa's Injury Hits Just After ACL Return
Bola had only recently returned from a torn ACL and played in the 49ers' first two games this season. In Week 2's win, he recorded five quarterback pressures — leading the team that game. Record Bee reported that through two weeks, his 69 snaps led San Francisco's edge-rusher group.
Defensive Line Decimated by Practice Injuries
The 49ers' defensive-line problems go beyond Bosa. Sam Okuayinonu broke his foot at an early-September practice, while Alfred Collins suffered a season-ending knee injury during a practice in Melbourne. Defensive lineman CJ West was also set to undergo surgery for a knee bone chip.
The rash of practice-caused injuries has forced the team to juggle depth. Rookie edge rusher Romello Height is questionable heading into Sunday, which could give backups Ogbo Okoronkwo and Khalid Kareem expanded roles.
49ers Navigate Crowded Injured Reserve List
With 15 players already on injured reserve, the 49ers face a cap-management puzzle. Kyle Shanahan explained that the team must carefully time which players get designated to return from IR because designations are limited. Once those slots run out, the team loses flexibility to bring injured players back mid-season.
Beyond the defensive line, wide receiver Ricky Pearsall and tight end Jake Tonges are also among San Francisco's season-ending losses. The injury pile-up threatens the team's depth across multiple positions heading into Week 3.
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