San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa is about to step back into the spotlight, and the scrutiny will be immediate.
That comes with the territory after the kind of contract he signed in 2023. It also comes with the reality of what has followed: Bosa has appeared in just 19 of a possible 41 games since 2024, a stretch that naturally invites questions about how the 49ers have gotten out of that investment.
The numbers tell the story. Bosa played every game in 2023, finishing with 10.5 sacks, 53 combined tackles and 16 tackles for loss after his 2022 Defensive Player of the Year season. But from 2024 onward, over two and a half seasons, he has been on the field for 19 games and has posted 11 sacks and 76 combined tackles.
That production is still real. So is the concern. His best seasons came in 2021 and 2022, when he logged 15.5 sacks and 18.5 sacks, respectively, and since then the bigger issue has become whether he can stay available long enough to justify the commitment.
Bosa has now played only five games since the start of the 2025 season, and that has only intensified the questions around his future in San Francisco. At some point, the 49ers have to weigh whether to trade him or simply move on before his contract runs out after the 2028 season.
For now, though, he has a chance to answer on the field. Bosa is working back from the left calf injury he suffered before Week 3, and with his practice window now open, he has taken the first step toward returning.
Once he does get back, the rest of the season offers him a runway to show two things: that he can stay healthy, and that he can still look like one of the NFL’s premier pass rushers. Those are the two hurdles in front of him, and they are the ones that matter most.
If the 49ers eventually decide to go in another direction, the financial picture could make that easier to stomach. A future move away from Bosa, especially if it comes when his contract expires, would free up salary-cap space and give the team more flexibility to spend elsewhere.
So yes, the attention will be heavy when he returns Sunday. It should be.
For Bosa, this stretch is about more than just getting back on the field. It is about proving he can still be the player the 49ers paid for.
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49ers Game Day Changes Could Open The Door Against Raiders
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There is also some roster movement that adds another layer to the afternoon, with the receiving corps getting a boost and depth being adjusted behind it. For a 49ers offense that will be looking to stress a Raiders defense already under the microscope, those changes could shape how the game is attacked early and how much flexibility San Francisco has if the script starts to shift. [Read more 🡒]