4 injured SF 49ers who bounce back in a big way in 2021

No. 1: SF 49ers EDGE Nick Bosa

Perhaps the epitome of all the SF 49ers’ injury struggles last season can be centered on the Week 2 loss of second-year pro EDGE Nick Bosa, whose season-ending ACL tear was a blow unlike any other the Niners endured.

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Bosa, one of San Francisco’s best defensive players, was looking to potentially compete for a Defensive Player of the Year honor after securing the same accolade for a rookie in 2019.

Only that was cut short because of his injury.

Bosa already flashed just how good a player he could be his rookie season, and the scary thing was he was only going to get better. Now, the ACL tear is nothing to scoff at. It’s possible he takes an additional year to reacclimate himself to life on the gridiron, and there’s the inevitable chance other related injuries pop up.

The thing, though, is Bosa’s presence will only serve to upgrade what was still a decent SF 49ers defense in 2020. Additional second-year maturation from last year’s rookie defensive tackle, Javon Kinlaw, will surely help.

But it’ll be Bosa’s task to regain the same prowess he had back in 2019.

Unless he suffers another injury setback in 2021, look for him to be yet another prolific defender this upcoming year.