The 49ers injury report Nick Bosa Broncos storyline took a bleak turn Thursday: star defensive end Nick Bosa did not practice because of a calf injury, and general manager John Lynch told KBNR that Bosa will “likely be out this week” in Denver, per Niners Wire.
Thursday’s did-not-practice list ran six names deep, and with the 49ers traveling to face a dangerous Denver pass rush, the availability report could decide the game before a snap is played. All injury statuses below are per team reports and remain unconfirmed until game day.
49ers Injury Report Nick Bosa Broncos: Thursday Practice Update
Bosa suffered the calf injury in practice last week and missed Week 3. The 49ers opted not to place him on injured reserve — a sign they expect an absence of weeks, not months — but he is expected to miss a few games, per Sports Illustrated.
Lynch struck a cautiously optimistic note on KBNR: “When he’s right, we’ll have him back out there,” per Niners Wire. But his more immediate verdict — “likely be out this week” — tells the real story. Losing Bosa against this Broncos team is a particularly cruel twist: without him to generate pressure, the 49ers’ pass rush loses its centerpiece and its best answer to Denver’s attack.
49ers Injury Report Nick Bosa Broncos: The Full Thursday DNP List
The Bosa news overshadows a DNP list that would be alarming on its own. The full Thursday did-not-practice group, per Sports Illustrated:
- DE Nick Bosa — calf
- WR Mike Evans — ribs
- LB Dre Greenlaw — quad
- WR KhaDarel Hodge — knee
- DT James Thompson — ankle
- DE Keion White — hamstring
That is two starting-caliber defensive linemen, a starting linebacker and two receivers sidelined on the same practice day — the kind of list that forces coaches to redraw game plans on the fly.
Mike Evans: “Old School” Toughness vs. Rib Injury
Evans is dealing with a rib injury that kept him out of Thursday’s session. But Lynch said the veteran has an “old school” mindset and will “make every attempt” to play, per Sports Illustrated. Rib injuries are notoriously tricky for receivers — every hit and every fall to the turf is a fresh jolt — but Evans has built a career on playing through pain, and his availability will be one of the key game-day decisions.
Trent Williams Trending the Right Way
There is better news on the offensive line. All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams did not finish last Sunday’s game after suffering a stinger and sat out Wednesday’s practice, but he was upgraded to limited participation Thursday, and per team reports the 49ers are hopeful he plays in Denver.
That hope matters enormously. If Williams suits up, the marquee individual matchup is Broncos edge rusher Nik Bonitto against Williams — “one of the best left tackles of the modern era,” as Sports Illustrated put it. If Williams cannot go, the 49ers would be asking a backup to handle one of the league’s most explosive edge rushers, on the road, in altitude.
A Glimmer of Hope: Mykel Williams Returns to Practice
Defensive end Mykel Williams practiced this week for the first time in a year following ACL recovery. He remains on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list and is not eligible to return until Week 5, so he will not help in Denver — but with Bosa likely out and White sidelined, San Francisco needs that reinforcements pipeline flowing soon. “He looks excellent… He’s chomping at the bit,” Lynch said, per Niners Wire.
Full Participants and What It Means for Sunday
Running back Christian McCaffrey (rest) was a full participant Thursday, per Sports Illustrated — no concern there. Defensive end Romello Height (hand) was limited.
The picture: a 49ers team that should have its offensive engine at full strength, may have its franchise left tackle, is likely missing its best defensive player, and is sweating a veteran receiver and a starting linebacker. Strip away the names and the story is pressure — Denver wants to unleash Bonitto and company, while San Francisco, without Bosa and possibly White, will struggle to return the favor. The official inactive lists, released 90 minutes before kickoff, will tell the final tale.
Also in today’s NFL coverage: the Steelers traded cornerback Joey Porter Jr. to the Cowboys for a 2027 sixth-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nick Bosa playing against the Broncos?
Probably not. Bosa (calf) did not practice Thursday, and 49ers GM John Lynch said on KBNR that Bosa will “likely be out this week,” per Niners Wire. He suffered the calf injury in practice last week, missed Week 3, and is expected to miss a few games, though he was not placed on injured reserve, according to Sports Illustrated.
Who else is on the 49ers injury report for the Broncos game?
Thursday’s did-not-practice list included DE Nick Bosa (calf), WR Mike Evans (ribs), LB Dre Greenlaw (quad), WR KhaDarel Hodge (knee), DT James Thompson (ankle) and DE Keion White (hamstring), per Sports Illustrated. LT Trent Williams (stinger) was limited Thursday after sitting out Wednesday, and the team is hopeful he plays. All statuses are per team reports and unconfirmed until game day.
Will Trent Williams play vs. the Broncos?
The 49ers are hopeful. Williams did not finish last Sunday’s game with a stinger and sat out Wednesday, but he was upgraded to limited participation Thursday, per team reports. If he plays, the key matchup is Broncos edge rusher Nik Bonitto against Williams, described by Sports Illustrated as “one of the best left tackles of the modern era.”
When can Mykel Williams return from the PUP list?
Defensive end Mykel Williams, practicing for the first time in a year after ACL recovery, remains on the PUP list and is not eligible to return until Week 5, according to Niners Wire. GM John Lynch said “He looks excellent… He’s chomping at the bit.”
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