1:05pm: The 49ers are not likely to move Bosa to injured reserve, per Schefter. San Francisco’s already lengthy list of players on the IR front is a key factor in this decision, which is not exactly encouraging with respect to ensuring Bosa is only in line for a short-term absence. Nevertheless, a return within four games will be possible in this case.
10:38am: The 49ers have been dealt another blow on the injury front. Nick Bosa managed to play the first two games of San Francisco’s season, but he is now in line to miss time.
The All-Pro edge rusher pulled his calf during practice yesterday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport report. An absence of “a few weeks” is now expected in Bosa’s case. The 49ers are evaluating whether or not a stint on injured reserve will prove to be necessary.
A move to IR would require an absence of at least four games. Even if Bosa avoids injured reserve, missing him for a short-term span would still deal a blow to the 49ers’ pass rush room. Bosa suffered an ACL tear early last season, and his ability to return to full strength was a key storyline throughout the spring and summer. The five-time Pro Bowler managed to make the trip to Melbourne for Week 1 and play this past Sunday against the Dolphins. Bosa has logged a 63% defensive snap share to date.
Now, though, another run of missed time is in store. The former Defensive Player of the Year was limited to two games in 2020 before a run of double-digit contests from 2021-24. Bosa’s absence for much of 2025 represented a blow to the 49ers’ defense, and notable missed time once again this season will make an impact as well.
Fellow defensive end Mykel Williams was placed on the reserve/PUP list during roster cutdowns. That ensured at least four weeks on the sidelines to begin the season as he continues to recover from an ACL tear of his own. The 2025 first-rounder made nine starts as a rookie before going down, and a heavy defensive workload upon returning to the fold can be expected. That would especially be the case if Williams’ season debut were to take place with Bosa unavailable.
The Bosa-Williams tandem had a limited run together last year, and it will take until well into the current campaign for it to be reformed this in 2026. The 49ers managed a 12-5 record in 2025, and they have started this year at 2-0. Even so, injuries have already piled up for a veteran-laden team which faced questions about durability heading into the year The defensive front has been hit particularly hard, including most notably Alfred Collins suffering a torn patellar tendon. Bosa, 29 next month, is the latest example on that front.
Bosa’s contract runs through 2028, but his cap charge for next season is scheduled to spike to $54.87MM. Many have pointed to the 2027 offseason as a logical time for an extension to be worked out as a result, although a second straight season featuring injury issues could of course lead to hesitancy on the 49ers’ part in terms of making a renewed big-money commitment.
