Nick Bosa knows exactly what it looks like when the roles flip.
When he arrived in San Francisco in 2019, DeForest Buckner was already the established force on the 49ers’ defensive front, the veteran who knew the standard and expected the rookie to catch up. Now Buckner is the one learning a new system, and Bosa is the longer-tenured piece taking a little pride in the reversal.
“It’s funny. [Buckner's] head was spinning a little bit this week... trying to get everything down. It’s just funny because when I came in, the roles were reversed, but it’s great to have him back,” Bosa said jokingly after the Week 9 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
The joke landed because it carried some truth. Bosa is clearly glad to have his old teammate back in the building, but there’s also a little satisfaction in being the guy who now knows the ropes.
In 2019, Bosa was the newcomer trying to survive. Now Buckner is the one dropped into a defense that looks very different from the one he left, with Kyle Shanahan’s scheme having evolved and Raheem Morris now running the defense.
Even with the adjustment period, Buckner wasted no time making his presence felt in Week 9. He finished with just two QB pressures, but that number doesn’t tell the whole story. He drew enough attention inside to help the 49ers generate 15 total pressures on Kirk Cousins, while Bosa added two pressures of his own.
That kind of disruption is exactly why Buckner changes the feel of this defense. With him back in the mix, San Francisco suddenly looks like it has one of the most complete front sevens in the league. If the back end is healthy, that only makes the unit harder to deal with.
Buckner’s return also gives the 49ers a nasty interior pairing. Alongside Osa Odighizuwa, he gives San Francisco a duo that can wreck a game from the middle. Odighizuwa has already been a major win for the 49ers, posting two sacks and ranking 14th in pressures among interior linemen.
San Francisco heads to Dallas this week, and Odighizuwa gets a shot at revenge against his former team. With Buckner next to him, he should have room to attack. And Buckner should keep doing what he does best: force offenses to account for him on every snap.
The matchup is no picnic for Dallas, even with PFF ranking the Cowboys’ offensive line ninth. Dak Prescott has already been sacked 14 times, six more than Brock Purdy.
In Other News...
49ers Get Deebo Boost But A Bigger Cowboys Concern Is Growing
San Franciscos offense is starting to look a little more like itself with Deebo Samuel moving closer to a return from the hamstring injury that has kept him out. For a unit that has been trying to regain rhythm, getting Samuel back in the mix would be a meaningful lift, especially with the 49ers trying to keep momentum headed into a matchup that has already started to feel important.
The bigger concern, though, is on the other side of the ball, where the secondary is suddenly dealing with a crowded injury report. Deommodore Lenoir and Renardo Green both missed practice, several other defensive backs were limited, and even a few key veterans on offense and defense, including Trent Williams and Dre Greenlaw, were working through new issues of their own. For a team that has leaned on depth and versatility all season, the timing of those absences is less than ideal. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Passing Game Just Got A Big Week 10 Opening
A potentially important Week 10 break is starting to tilt the 49ers way, with Dallas cornerback Joey Porter Jr. missing practice because of a foot injury and still listed as questionable for Sunday. For a San Francisco passing game already dealing with its own wide receiver injuries, any edge matters, and the possibility of facing a shorthanded secondary only adds to the intrigue around Brock Purdys return to the lineup.
Porter also pushed back on the contract chatter around his absence, saying the injury is the only reason he is out. From the 49ers perspective, the bigger picture is simple: Purdy is expected to play, and Dallas has shown defensive vulnerability against the run, which could force the Cowboys to pick their poison if their top corner cannot go. [Read more 🡒]
Brock Purdy Explained The Thumbs-Down That Added Edge To A Rout
The 49ers kept rolling with a 38-17 win over the Raiders, a result that pushed them to 7-1 and into a tie for the best record in the NFL. Brock Purdy was at the center of it again, throwing for 232 yards and two touchdowns while adding a rushing score, and the offense looked every bit like a unit that has settled into a rhythm behind a defense that has been doing its part all season.
Purdy also added a little extra edge to the afternoon with a thumbs-down gesture he later framed as playful rivalry banter, the kind of small flash that can turn a comfortable win into a talking point. For San Francisco, the bigger picture is even more important now, with Dallas up next and the 49ers carrying both momentum and a defense that has been holding opponents in check while the schedule gets tougher. [Read more 🡒]