Nick Bosa Suffers ACL Injury and Misses the Rest of the Season
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The San Francisco 49ers face a hard blow after the injury of Nick Bosa, their outstanding defensive end, was confirmed. Medical examinations revealed a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the right knee, which will leave him out of action for the rest of the season.Despite the team’s initial hopes, Bosa already anticipated the diagnosis after the victory against the Arizona Cardinals. Coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed the news, explaining that Bosa was convinced of the severity of the injury.
Bosa, 27, will have to undergo surgery once the inflammation subsides. This absence represents a significant loss for the 49ers, who lose one of their defensive pillars and the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2022. A positive aspect, according to Shanahan, is that the ACL injury did not involve damage to other ligaments. “I was told it’s as clean as you can get,” the coach stated, suggesting a potentially more favorable recovery. The injury occurred in the last quarter of the game against the Cardinals. Bosa, while trying to pressure quarterback Kyler Murray, suffered an unnatural movement in his right knee. Although the severity of the injury was not initially detected on the sidelines, Bosa already seemed aware of the situation, as demonstrated by his communication with his family members. Before the injury, Bosa had performed outstandingly in the first two weeks of the season, with two sacks, eight pressures, 15 tackles, and a pressure success rate of 21.9%. Since Bosa arrived in the league in 2019, the 49ers have a 65-32 record in the regular season and playoffs with him on the field, and 6-12 without his presence. The 49ers’ defense, which already had eight new starters compared to the previous season, will have to rely even more on young players and new additions. Mykel Williams, Bryce Huff, Yetur Gross-Matos, and Sam Okuayinonu are the remaining defensive ends on the roster. Shanahan acknowledged the difficulty of replacing Bosa, but emphasized the importance of all players raising their level of play. The coach also mentioned that the team will explore trade options, but is not in a hurry to make a decision. Regarding other injury news, quarterback Brock Purdy (toe) will increase his participation in practice and the team will evaluate his limitations. Mac Jones (knee) is considered day-to-day, as are CJ West (thumb), Renardo Green (neck), Jauan Jennings (ankle, shoulder), and Williams (wrist). Demarcus Robinson is also available to return this week, after being removed from the reserve/suspended list.“I was pretty sure he had done it,” Shanahan said. “You could tell by walking on the field, seeing his face and talking to him last night, how sure he was and knowing his body, and then an MRI confirmed it this morning.”
Kyle Shanahan
