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The San Francisco 49ers edged out the Arizona Cardinals 16-15 in Week 3 on September 21 at Levi’s Stadium, but the victory came at a cost. Nick Bosa left the game with a knee injury.
Bosa’s setback adds to a growing list of 49ers players sidelined by injuries just three weeks into the 2025 season, joining Brock Purdy and George Kittle. While there’s no news on how severe the injury is for Bosa, San Francisco cannot afford to lose their star pass rusher.
On the latest “CBS Sports HQ,” NFL analyst Damien Harris explained why the 49ers must hope that Bosa’s knee injury doesn’t keep him out long-term.
“When you talk about it from a health perspective, you just can’t afford to lose guys like this, and in particular Nick Bosa, because I know you got Fred Warner, I know you got other guys that play well for this defense,” Harris said.
“You don’t go without Nick Bosa; you don’t go without the consistent pressure that he brings to the quarterback’s lap. You don’t go without the run presence that he has.”
Nick Bosa Brings Leadership to 49ers
Along with bringing pressure to the quarterback, Bosa also brings leadership to the 49ers squad. The veteran push rusher helps elevate the talent around him on defense, which would be missed if he’s gone.
“He’s a leader on this team,” Harris added. “Maybe not the most vocal, since we know he’s a quiet guy, but on the field, he’s like Micah Parsons—commanding attention and elevating everyone around him. The guys play better because they see him as the fearless leader they need to match.”
“That’s how you build a complete defense, instead of relying on just one star player. Losing someone like Nick Bosa, though, is tough—especially for an injury-plagued team like the San Francisco 49ers.”
What’s the latest on 49ers star Nick Bosa?
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said it doesn’t appear to be an ACL injury for Bosa, but the team needs more tests to determine the extent of the injury. Shanahan said they haven’t entirely ruled out an ACL injury, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
“There is concern because of how he feels,” Shanahan said, but the initial physical test didn’t indicate that. “Hopefully we’ll have some good news tomorrow,” he added.
Even without their top pass rusher, the 49ers’ defense refused to crumble. The unit rallied to hold the Cardinals to just 15 points, making crucial stops while San Francisco’s offense struggled.
The defense kept the 49ers competitive as the offense managed only six points through three quarters. By containing the Cardinals, the defensive unit gave the offense a chance to turn things around, ultimately putting together 10 points in the fourth quarter, capped by Eddy Pineiro’s game-winning field goal.
Regardless of whether Bosa is out short or long-term, the 49ers defense will need to count on these young players to play big roles. San Francisco will have two major tests in the upcoming weeks as they’ll face the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 4 and the Los Angeles Rams in Week 5.
Eduardo Razo Eduardo Razo is a sports journalist covering the NFL for Heavy.com. He previously covered the league for NBC Sports Washington and NBC Sports Bay Area & California, and has contributed as a freelance writer for The Sporting News. He also served as an editor for Athlon Sports and Heavy Sports focusing on MLB and the NFL. More about Eduardo Razo
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