Niner Noise
FanSided

Tough questions the 49ers have to ask going into the 2019 season

By Timmy Gibson

DENVER, CO - AUGUST 19: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers sets to pass against the Denver Broncos in the first quarter during a preseason National Football League game at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on August 19, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - AUGUST 19: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers sets to pass against the Denver Broncos in the first quarter during a preseason National Football League game at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on August 19, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 3
Next
ARLINGTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 15: Nick Bosa #97 of the Ohio State Buckeyes lays on the field after being injured in the third quarter against the TCU Horned Frogs during The AdvoCare Showdown at AT&T Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 15: Nick Bosa #97 of the Ohio State Buckeyes lays on the field after being injured in the third quarter against the TCU Horned Frogs during The AdvoCare Showdown at AT&T Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

As the San Francisco 49ers enter the 2019 season highly hyped, it’s time to take a look at some tough questions that no one wants to ask, but the Niners will have to answer if they want to hoist the Lombardi Trophy again.

It’s no doubt San Francisco 49ers fans are incredibly excited about the 2019 season.

After last season was decimated by injuries, this is the year when fans believe the 49ers will make the leap to one of the NFL’s elite teams. Nearly everyone would love to be one of those fans.

However there’s a few questions which fans need to see answered before they can fully jump on the bandwagon.

Let’s take a look at them.

Is Nick Bosa injury prone?

In the 2019 NFL Draft, the 49ers used the second overall pick to select Nick Bosa, a defensive end from Ohio State. Before Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray mania began, Bosa was widely seen as the most talented player in this draft, so fans were thrilled when the Niners were able to grab him.

Bosa is the younger brother of the Los Angeles Chargers’ Joey Bosa. Joey Bosa has proven to be one of the best defenders in the NFL, and most experts consider Nick Bosa to be his carbon copy. If he can be a copy of his brother on the field, the Niners certainly have a phenomenal defender for years to come.

However, Joey Bosa has had trouble staying on the field in his career. And it seems Nick may have a similar struggle. Bosa sat out nearly all of his last season at Ohio State with a core injury. And since joining the 49ers, he has struggled with injuries. First it was a hamstring strain which kept him out of some early practices. Then it was an ankle sprain which will keep him out of the entire preseason.

These injuries lead to a question that has to be asked: Is Bosa injury prone? He can have all the talent in the world, but he’s no good to the Niners if he’s not on the field. Without Bosa, the Niners defense goes from phenomenal to simply good.

And the Niners will need a phenomenal defense if they want to be an elite team this year.

It’s unfair to call a guy “injury prone” before he has even played a snap in the NFL. And given all of the injuries are separate, it seems Bosa has simply had some bad luck in his first offseason as a pro.

But, we will have to see if Bosa can get healthy and stay healthy for the regular season.