The San Francisco 49ers are holding their breath over Nick Bosa's knee, but it sounds like the star pass rusher will be on the field when the games start counting. Bosa is currently listed as week-to-week because of tendinitis in his knee, an issue that emerged during his recovery from last season's torn ACL.
Bosa, 28, tore his ACL in September, cutting short what was shaping up to be another dominant campaign. He's been a limited participant in training camp, and the team is taking a cautious approach with his workload. The tendinitis, however, isn't a new problem—it's a nagging issue that dates back to his high school days.
"I had a little tendinitis from my high school ACL, and he cleaned that up while he [fixed] my ACL," Bosa said, via Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. "That's gone. So it's like an improvement. So once I'm through this rehab, I feel like my right knee—because that was kind of a chronic issue that I had a little bit, and he cleaned that up in my quad tendon and that hasn't been an issue at all—could feel better when I'm done with this recovery."
The 49ers are optimistic that Bosa will be ready for the season opener against the Los Angeles Rams. Head coach Kyle Shanahan downplayed the concern, calling it a routine part of ACL recovery.
"Pretty normal thing with ACLs," Shanahan said. "Gotta be smart and be week to week. No concerns about it being more than that."
Bosa's presence is crucial for a 49ers defense that has Super Bowl aspirations. Since being drafted in 2019, he's racked up 278 tackles, 168 quarterback hits, 64.5 sacks, and 13 forced fumbles. He's a five-time Pro Bowler and the 2019 Defensive Rookie of the Year, and his ability to wreck games off the edge is a cornerstone of their defensive scheme.
The team has already dealt with the sudden retirement of Bryce Huff, which thins their pass-rushing depth. That makes Bosa's health even more critical. If he's not 100 percent, the 49ers could be vulnerable on that side of the ball.
For now, the plan is to manage Bosa's reps and let the tendinitis settle. The team is confident that with proper treatment, he'll be ready to go when the Rams come to town. But as with any knee issue, there's always a degree of uncertainty.
The 49ers are also keeping an eye on other injury situations around the league, knowing that health often decides championships. For now, though, they're breathing a little easier knowing Bosa's issue appears to be minor.
Bosa's return to full strength would be a massive boost for a defense that finished in the top 10 last year despite his absence. With a healthy Bosa, the 49ers have the pieces to make a deep playoff run. The key is getting him to Week 1 without any setbacks.
