San Francisco 49ers edge rusher Nick Bosa has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons, despite saying two weeks ago that he would “definitely” be ready to play.
Bosa has not practiced or appeared during media-open portions of practice since making that declaration. Coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed Friday that the injury has lingered longer than expected.
“I just think he was a little too optimistic,” Shanahan said. “Especially for Bosa because he’s pretty accurate. He doesn’t say stuff like that unless it’s accurate. I just think it surprised him.”
Bosa returned from ACL surgery to play in the 49ers’ first two games this season, recording seven tackles but no sacks. He then turned up unexpectedly on the injury report ahead of the team’s Week 3 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals after straining his calf while warming up for practice on Sept. 24. He has not practiced since.
Two weeks ago, Bosa had said he was “feeling better and better” and called it “pretty darn likely” that he would be ready for the 49ers’ 23-17 win over the Washington Commanders last Monday. That did not happen, and the earliest he’s now expected back is Week 9, following San Francisco’s upcoming bye week.
“He worked out after he said that and the next day he was just a little sore, which surprised all of us,” Shanahan said. “That wasn’t a great sign, especially going to play on turf this week.”
Even without Bosa recording a single sack this season, the 49ers’ defense under coordinator Raheem Morris has held up well. The team is already three-quarters of the way to matching its league-worst sack total from a year ago.
“I thought we’d have a chance to have a real good defense this year,” Shanahan said. “But when you lose six D-Linemen in the first two weeks, if you told me after that we’d still be a top-five defense going into Week 7, I would have been a little surprised.”
Rookies Romello Height and Gracen Halton, veteran additions Osa Odighizuwa and Keion White, and practice-squad call-ups Sebastian Valdez and Ogbo Okoronkwo have all logged multiple quarterback hits this season, alongside longtime linebacker Fred Warner.
“I think it’s a credit to everyone who has stepped it up,” Shanahan said. “It’s a credit to Raheem and the rest of those guys on the coaching staff. I’m real happy with how they’ve been working and playing and finding ways to win.”
Okoronkwo was released Friday to make room on the roster for receiver Christian Kirk, but the 49ers are expected to re-sign him to the practice squad and elevate him for Sunday’s game.
