San Francisco 49ers rumors: NaVorro Bowman expected to return midseason

By Jack Crosby | Jul 25, 2014

Jan 19, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman (53) is carted off the field during the second half of the 2013 NFC Championship football game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks defeated the 49ers 23-17. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports /

The San Francisco 49ers will begin the 2014 NFL regular season without arguably their best player on the defensive side of the ball, linebacker NaVorro Bowman. Still recovering from the gruesome knee injury that he suffered during the team’s NFC Championship Game loss to the Seahawks, this was already known.

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What has not been known, however, is a timetable for a return. Some have even speculated that he could miss the entire season, although it looks like that thankfully won’t be the case.

According to Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area, the team expects to have him back on the field and fully participating by the mid-point of the season.

The 49ers are not expecting NaVorro Bowman to return until the midpoint of the season.
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) July 25, 2014

That really would be the best case scenario for the 49ers.

Bowman was obviously placed on the ACTIVE/PUP List this past week to start training camp.

Just this past week, fellow linebacker Patrick Willis noted that he wants more than anything for his teammate and friend to get himself back in playing shape so they can start dominating together once again.

“We were out there doing the conditioning test this morning and I looked over at him,” Willis said of his close friend. “I wanted to yell out, ‘Bo! What’s up man?’ But I don’t want to put more than he already has on his shoulders. I know he wants to be out there more than anything.

“I just want him to take his time and when he comes back, he’ll be ready to go.”