It sounds like the San Francisco 49ers will have to get used to life without defensive end Nick Bosa.
Bosa was off to a strong start in 2026 despite not registering a sack in the first two weeks. Pro Football Focus had him down for six pressures and five run stops with one quarterback hit. That hot start was derailed Thursday when Bosa suffered a calf injury that sent him to the sideline for the rest of the week.
Here's everything we know about Bosa's Week 3 status:
Nick Bosa injury update
Bosa hurt his calf going through his own pre-practice warm-up routine Thursday. He was given his usual veteran rest day Wednesday and then was listed as a non-participant Thursday and Friday because of the calf. San Francisco elected not to put Bosa on IR when they made their roster
moves Saturday. ESPN's Adam Schefter on Sunday reported the team isn't angling toward putting the pass rusher on IRat any point, and that the expectation continues to be that he'll miss a few weeks.
Will Nick Bosa play vs. Arizona Cardinals?
He will not. The team already ruled him out on Friday's injury report. We'll probably not see Bosa for at least three weeks, and more likely four or five. If San Francisco keeps him out for the next five games, Bosa will then get the Week 8 Bye for additional rest before a potential Week 9 return.
What Kyle Shanahan said about Nick Bosa's injury update
Shanahan mostly spoke to how the team will deal with Bosa's absence. On Friday Shanahan indicated the expectation is the injury won't be season-ending and that the team expects him back at some point in the near future.
“I mean, we can't say exactly, but I'm guessing around a few weeks," Shanahan said when asked about Bosa's timeline for return.
Who will play for the 49ers while Nick Bosa is out?
San Francisco won't be able to replace Bosa with just one person, especially in Week 3 with DE Romello Height also sidelined by a hand injury. Keion White, Ogbo Okoronkwo, Khalid Kareem and Viliami Fehoko are all DE options on the active roster who should see plenty of action in the weeks Bosa is out. The team is also expecting DE Mykel Williams back at some point soon, and he should provide some quality DE depth for San Francisco.
More 49ers: 49ers work out 4 defensive linemen amid injury crisis
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Nick Bosa injury update: Will 49ers DE play vs. Cardinals?
