Nick Bosa week-to-week with leg injury

As the 2020 NFL season approaches, the 49ers defensive line takes a hit

Despite recent praise from new acquisition Trent Williams, San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa is expected to miss several weeks with a leg injury. Bosa is considered “week-to-week” with a core muscle injury, but Kyle Shanahan is thankful the team caught it when they did, as it could’ve been far worse had he played on it prematurely.

“Glad he ended up getting that MRI because there was more to it…Fortunately, we caught that and we were able to prevent him from hurting it worse,” Shanahan said, per David Lombardi of The Athletic.

The 49ers open the season with an intriguing challenge against the Arizona Cardinals, and you can bet Kyler Murray will sleep much easier ahead of that matchup should Bosa be forced out.

Should Nick Bosa miss any time in the regular season, who will be forced to step up in his place?

While Bosa will miss time, the 49ers are lucky that Dee Ford is not expected to be out long-term with his calf injury. Ford will be relied upon ever more heavily than usual, as the former Pro Bowler is just one season removed from registering 13 sacks for a Kansas City Chiefs team that made it to the AFC Championship Game.

San Francisco got rid of one of their best defensive linemen this offseason by trading DeForest Buckner to the Indianapolis Colts. While it’s ironic that this decision could rear its ugly head come Week 1, the 49ers hope Javon Kinlaw proves them right in the long-term, as they selected the South Carolina product with the first-round pick they acquired in the Buckner deal (after trading back one pick).

Ideally, Bosa won’t have to miss any regular season time, but with Week 1 fast approaching, Shanahan has yet to comment.