The 49ers got a much-needed dose of good news on Nick Bosa this week, and it came at the right time.
Bosa sat out San Francisco’s preseason opener at home against the Tennessee Titans because of a knee injury that had already cost him time at training camp. That absence naturally set off alarms, especially for a player whose recent health history has made every update feel bigger than it should.
On Sunday, though, the picture looked better.
“Nick Bosa is running well on side as D-line and other position drills underway. No support sleeve on right ACL,” reported Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group on X, formerly Twitter.
That detail matters because Bosa’s knee situation immediately brought back memories of last season, when he missed the majority of the year with an ACL tear. The 49ers were hit hard by injuries throughout that season, including a season-ending injury to linebacker Fred Warner.
Bosa’s talent has never been in question. When he’s on the field, he’s still one of the league’s top pass rushers. The problem has been getting him there consistently, and that uncertainty has become part of the conversation around him in recent years.
San Francisco, meanwhile, has been trying to dig out from back-to-back seasons that were derailed by injuries. The 49ers did manage to reach the playoffs last year despite the setbacks, but if they want a real shot at hanging with the Seattle Seahawks and the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC West, they need their best players available.
The new season starts with a tough one, too. The 49ers open against the Rams on September 10 in Australia.
In Other News...
Brock Purdy Is Sending A Clear Message About Deebo Samuel
Deebo Samuel is back in the building for the 49ers after spending a year with Washington, and Brock Purdy is making it clear the receiver still matters to this offense. Samuel returned on a one-year, $7 million deal during training camp, and Purdy has been vocal this preseason about the kind of value Samuel brings when he is moving around the formation and turning routine touches into something bigger.
For San Francisco, the timing matters. The 49ers are now carrying the oldest average roster in the league, and any questions about Samuels age-30 season only add to the scrutiny around a group trying to stay productive and fresh. Purdys message has been consistent, though, and it points to a familiar hope in Santa Clara: if Samuel is right, the offense gets another layer it can use right away. [Read more 🡒]
Kyle Shanahans Return Raises A 49ers Question That Isnt Going Away
Kyle Shanahan was back on the 49ers sideline for the preseason opener after spending the start of camp working his way back from injuries sustained in a July 14 car accident. The return itself mattered for a team trying to settle into August, but it also underscored how unusual his summer has been. Shanahan dealt with multiple fractures and a concussion, limiting what he could do throughout training camp while the rest of the staff kept the operation moving.
Klay Kubiak handled the play-calling duties in the preseason, keeping the offense on schedule while Shanahan eased back into his usual role. The setup leaves a familiar question hanging over San Francisco as the regular season approaches: how smoothly the transition back to Shanahan's full-time control will go once games start to count. For a coach who is such a central piece of the 49ers' identity, even a temporary shuffle has a way of drawing attention. [Read more 🡒]