The San Francisco 49ers defense has been instrumental to the team’s 2-0 start this season. Unfortunately for the club, edge rusher Nick Bosa is now poised to miss time after suffering an injury during Thursday’s practice.
[ESPN](https://x.com/AdamSchefter/status/2103500628765114632?s=20)‘s Adam Schefter reported that Bosa suffered a calf injury in practice on Thursday. San Francisco doesn’t have a clear timeline for the Pro Bowl pass rusher’s return, but he is expected to miss at least “a few weeks” of time.
It’s just another blow for a defense that is already thin up front. Edge rusher Mykel Williams, the team’s first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, is on the Physically Unable to Perform list as he recovers from an ACL tear suffered in November. Meanwhile, defensive tackle Alfred Collins suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 1 and fellow interior lineman C.J. West was placed on injured reserve earlier this week.
Bosa, who played in just 3 games last season due to the second ACL tear in his NFL career, was off to a strong start in 2026. While he didn’t have a sack through two games, he is credited with 4 pressures, 2 tackles for loss and 2 quarterback knockdowns.
Entering Week 3, San Francisco boasts the fifth-highest [pressure rate](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2026/opp.htm) (31.6%) and the ninth-best ESPN pass-rush win rate (55%) in the NFL. Bosa’s long-term absence now leaves the club relying on Keion White as the top edge rusher, with defensive coordinator Robert Saleh now likely having to blitz more moving forward to generate a pass rush.
While the 49ers should still be able to win on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, an extended absence could prove costly in the weeks to come. San Francisco hosts the Denver Broncos, who have the best offensive line in the NFL, in Week 3 and then take on the Seattle Seahawks in Week 4.