SANTA CLARA - Nick Bosa still hasn’t returned to practice, and with that left calf strain now three weeks old, the 49ers are staring at the possibility of going another game without him Monday against Washington.
Bosa has already sat out three straight games. He wanted this week to be the one he got back, and last Friday he said he’d definitely be ready for the Oct. 25 game at Atlanta if that didn’t happen. For now, though, the door remains open rather than fully kicked down.
“Nick is making really good progress. We’re encouraged by that,” general manager John Lynch said Friday morning on KNBR 680-AM.
“… We want to make sure when we get him back, we have him back for good, that he’s not going to re-injure it. There’s no assurances there, there’s no absolutes, but we’ll continue to communicate with everybody involved, see if he can get out here (Friday).
The extra day helps us, and so kind of a fluid situation there.”
The 49ers’ defensive line is clearly in flux, even after turning in a season-high five sacks in Sunday’s 32-29 win at Seattle.
One of the players helping hold things together, Romello Height, left the field Friday after a walk-through and did not take part in practice because of an illness. Height has started the last two games opposite Keion White.
The illness bug has already made the rounds in that area of the locker room. Eddy Piñeiro, George Kittle and Colton McKivitz all dealt with flu-like symptoms in recent weeks, and Kittle said Friday he finally felt fully over it after getting sick last Saturday.
There was at least some movement elsewhere on the injury front. Greyson Halton, dealing with a quadriceps issue, missed practice for a second straight day but worked in pads on the side.
James Thompson Jr. was back on the field for the first time since a high-ankle sprain on Sept. 20.
On the offensive side, Mike Evans - managing ribs and Achilles issues - did light work on the side for the second straight day. He doesn’t appear to be badly limited and is expected to play Monday, though his official status won’t come out until Saturday.
Christian Kirk also practiced for a second consecutive day and is being considered as a short-term Injured Reserve candidate.
Washington showed up with its own lengthy injury list, 22 players deep. Among those not practicing were linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson (knee; rest), running back Jacory Crosky-Merritt (groin), defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw (ankle, knee), wide receiver Terry McLaurin (hamstring; rest) and defensive end Charles Omenihu (groin, ankle).
And with the Nov. 10 trade deadline drawing closer, Lynch said the phone lines are active. Teams are calling and talking, he said, just to gauge “where the market is at.”
Asked whether Khalil Mack could be available from the Chargers, Lynch didn’t touch the tampering issue. But he did say, “a lot of people ask me that. … It’s usually Kittle because he asks about everything, which I love.”
Kittle made it clear where he stands if help does arrive.
“Anytime I see John Lynch on his little deck up there on the phone or texting, especially with us a couple weeks out of the trade deadline, I just like to chirp and ask what he’s interested in, see if he’ll give me anything. … We ride who we came here with, and then if they want to add somebody, we will welcome them with open arms.’
In Other News...
49ers Need Answers At Key Spots Before Washington Tests Their Depth
With Deebo Samuel out for Week 6, the 49ers are staring at a receiver shuffle that puts added pressure on the rest of the group as they prepare to face Washington. San Francisco has spent the week sorting through options, with younger wideouts Jacob Cowing and Jordan Watkins in line for a bigger look and fullback Kyle Juszczyk working his way back after a knee injury that cost him time in Week 4.
The defensive side brings its own questions, with Dre Greenlaw suspended and rookie linebacker Jaden Dugger positioned for a much larger role than he has had so far. Mykel Williams is also being eased back in after his ACL injury, and the 49ers are still monitoring how Colby holds up against a strong opponent as the depth chart gets tested in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Brock Purdy Debate Takes An Ugly Turn As Old Take Resurfaces
Brock Purdys strong start has the 49ers rolling again, and the old conversation around his place among the NFLs top quarterbacks has popped back up with it. Through five games, he has 13 touchdowns and San Francisco is 5-0, enough to keep the debate lively and to make some past criticism look a lot worse in hindsight.
Amy Trask, the former Raiders CEO who drew attention for her comments on Purdy during the 2024 playoffs, said the reaction to those remarks crossed a line. She has said she received venom and threats over the take, a reminder that criticism in the age of constant football discourse can turn ugly fast, even as Purdys play and Tom Bradys praise have kept the spotlight squarely on whether the 49ers quarterback is forcing a bigger reevaluation. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Must Clean Up One Costly Issue To Stay Unbeaten Monday Night
A 49ers team still working through injuries and a suspension gets a prime-time chance to keep its unbeaten start rolling Monday night against Washington, and the matchup carries a little extra weight beyond the standings. San Francisco is also on the cusp of another piece of history, entering the game with a chance to add to its long track record under the lights while leaning on the kind of statistical edge that has helped it look like one of the leagues most complete teams so far.
Washington offers a different kind of test, though, because Jayden Daniels can stress defenses in a hurry and the Commanders have been good at taking care of the ball. For San Francisco, the cleaner path is obvious: stay sharp on third down, avoid giveaways, and make the most of what should be favorable moments late in the game. If the 49ers can do that, they should be in position to keep both the win streak and the bigger Monday night chase intact. [Read more 🡒]