The 49ers may be down one offensive weapon in Week 9, but they’re trending toward getting a major defensive piece back in the lineup.
Nick Bosa looks set to return against the Las Vegas Raiders after missing time with a calf strain that has kept him sidelined for about a month and a half. According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, Bosa has been back on the practice field and now believes he’s ready to play.
“Nick Bosa appears poised to return to the field for the first time since late September. Nick Bosa, dealing with a calf strain for about a month and a half.
A little more for Nick Bosa. Calf strains are bad, they can linger.
The 49ers know they are in it for the long haul. They wanted to make sure they take their time.
But he has been on the field this week after the bye and told reporters in the locker room he believes he is good to go,” Rapoport said.
The 49ers have handled Bosa carefully, and it’s easy to see why. He’s a five-time Pro Bowler and a one-time Defensive Player of the Year, but he’s also coming off a torn ACL that limited him to three games last season. San Francisco has taken the cautious route with this injury, knowing it has bigger goals in mind later in the year.
If Bosa is back, he’ll be thrown right into a tough matchup. The Raiders’ offensive line has done a strong job keeping quarterback Kirk Cousins upright, allowing just 11 sacks so far. That total is tied for the fourth-fewest in the league, which means Bosa’s first game back could come with a real test.
In Other News...
49ers Face Two Raiders Threats That Could Ruin A Post-Bye Reset
The bye week gave San Francisco a chance to reset, and the focus has been as much on tightening up the defense as it has been on getting healthier. Adding DeForest Buckner is part of that broader push, especially with the 49ers trying to steady themselves against a Raiders team that has had real trouble keeping opponents out of the end zone and moving the ball consistently on the season.
Still, Las Vegas brings a couple of problems that can complicate a clean return to action. The Raiders have been opportunistic enough to create turnovers, and their passing game has been productive enough to stress a defense if it loses discipline, with Kirk Cousins and Brock Bowers giving them a reliable rhythm through the air since Bowers came back from injury. For San Francisco, the challenge is not just winning after the bye, but making sure a shaky opponent does not turn into the kind of trap game that exposes the same issues the break was supposed to fix. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Are Suddenly Tied To A Trade Fans Would Love
With the trade deadline approaching, ESPNs Bill Barnwell floated a move that would make plenty of sense on paper for San Francisco: a look at Falcons safety Jessie Bates. The fit is easy to see. Bates has a track record of making plays on the ball, and his past with 49ers defensive coordinator Raheem Morris in Atlanta adds a familiar layer to the idea.
The hard part is getting from theory to reality. Atlanta is still in the mix in its division, which makes it tougher to imagine the Falcons moving a key defensive back, and San Francisco also has some safety depth that could shape how aggressive it wants to be. Even so, it is the kind of name that naturally gets attention around the 49ers when a team is weighing whether to add another proven piece for the stretch run. [Read more 🡒]
John Lynch Just Kept 49ers Fans Guessing On Brandon Aiyuk
Brandon Aiyuks status has become one of the stranger storylines hanging over the 49ers, and John Lynch did little to clear it up. The San Francisco general manager addressed the unusual contract situation around the wide receiver, whose deal was voided last year, while noting that Aiyuk has not played since tearing his ACL and MCL in 2024 and later landed on the reserve/left squad list after the voided contract in 2025.
Lynch confirmed the team is working with the NFL Management Council to sort through the matter, which at least signals the 49ers are trying to handle the paperwork as carefully as the roster implications. He also stopped short of shutting the door on a reunion, leaving open the possibility that Aiyuk could be back in the picture if the situation is resolved the right way. [Read more 🡒]