The Heartbreaking Impact of Nick Bosa’s ACL Tear on the 49ers' Defensive Line
Nick Bosa's UCL injury has justifiably dominated the San Francisco 49ers' headlines this week. He's out for the season, and the void on the defensive line will be evident immediately.
The 49ers haven’t made any rash decisions or named a potential replacement, but Bosa’s irreplaceable presence leaves them significantly worse off.
Robert Saleh on the impact of Nick Bosa's injury
Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh will have to work without Bosa. Similar to 2020, when the defensive end tore the UCL in his left knee, Saleh will have to navigate the season without one of his biggest leaders.
He heaped praise on Bosa’s immense impact throughout the season so far, but that doesn’t change the fact that his injury will keep him on the sidelines for an extended period.
"No, there's nothing enjoyable. From a personal standpoint, we're always going to go to work," Saleh shared to the media on Thursday.
"We're always going to try to find a way to put our guys in the best situation possible. But, the most painful thing is to see a guy like Nick Bosa, who I thought had a perfect offseason, he had a perfect training camp, and he was playing at a defensive player of the year level.
"He was playing at an extremely high level, probably the best he's played in the last couple of years. For it to end short for him like that after two games and a quarter, it sucks for him.
"Don't feel sorry for anyone in this building. We get to show up, we get to watch film, we get to go to work, we get to go on the grass and try to figure it out. That's always going to be the fun part. What's sad is that he's going to be in rehab. And that's where my heart goes."
The 49ers face their toughest test thus far on Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars, in a matchup that could define the momentum of their season.
The 49ers’ secondary has already impressed, with multiple rookies making their mark. They’ve allowed just 16.3 points per game, ranking third overall in the NFL.
But the organization has shown this year that it can grind out wins when it matters. That's been one of the key talking points from this season. While Bosa’s absence may reveal the missing piece in the short term, it’s time for everyone to exemplify what it means to represent the red and gold.
Sutton Explains Broncos’ Sense of Urgency for Week 4 Win
Courtland Sutton stopped short of categorizing Monday night’s showdown with the Cincinnati Bengals as a must-win affair for the 1-2 Denver Broncos, losers of two straight.
Juuuust short.
“I feel like there’s a sense of urgency in each week. Each week is just as important. I would leave it at that there is no other adjective, adverb, however you want to describe it, used to describe it,” Sutton told reporters Wednesday. “But I don’t think there’s anything else outside of each week is important, each practice is important, each film study is important, every meeting. Everything that we do to prepare for the week is equally as important. I would say, and I’m sure you guys have heard [Head] Coach [Sean Payton] talk about the importance of the debrief. I think that’s something that we have leaned on really heavy because I’m sure you guys have also heard Coach talk about the importance of the race to improve over the first few weeks of the season.
”I would say that if you combine both of those, I think that the urgency would lean towards those two things. Making sure that we have a sense of urgency in understanding the importance of the debrief, and understanding the urgency in needing to improve and eliminate the things that we’re doing to hurt ourselves in these games. Have we played perfect? No. Have we had opportunities to win these past couple of games? Yes. It’s upon us to be able to eliminate those things that are handicapping us from being able to find success in a full four-quarter game.”
Not to suggest the other teams don’t get paid, too, but the Broncos have been their own worst enemy amid a brutal two-game slide in which they were downed by last-second field goals — untimely penalties, turnovers, defensive collapses, and questionable coaching decisions all playing a part.
With a trip to Philadelphia and then to London next on the docket, Denver can ill afford falling to 1-3 against a Joe Burrow-less Bengals squad (another AFC opponent), with the entire country watching, at the friendly confines of Empower Field.
The latter of which is arguably the most significant factor.
“What is it, half of our games we play at home? It’s huge for us to be able to protect the home field,” Sutton affirmed. ”I’m sure everybody at some point has played a sport and has heard somebody say, ‘You’re not going to let someone walk in your house and take what’s yours.’ So it’s upon us to create that mantra, that idea that when we play at home—every game is important—when we play at home it’s important for us to be able to maintain that protection of home field. They don’t call it home-field advantage for nothing. I feel like we have because of our fans, because of the atmosphere, because of the elements, we have a huge advantage playing at home. It’s upon us to make sure that we take advantage of that opportunity when we do get a chance to have it.”
Sutton nor his teams want to say it aloud, but it’s indisputable to the masses: this absolutely is a must-win — and even must-dominate — scenario for the Broncos.
