49ers desperately cling to hope Nick Bosa is healthy enough for Packers game

Nick Bosa isn't sure whether or not he'll play against the Packers in Week 12, but the 49ers' hopes for winning almost hinge on his availability.

When one thinks of a team's prospects for winning or losing a game hinging on a single player, thoughts typically turn to a quarterback. If a starting signal-caller goes down or is unavailable, all signs point to said team losing whatever game is on the table.

However, in the case of the San Francisco 49ers' Week 12 road affair against the Green Bay Packers, the Niners' chances of winning hinge almost entirely on another player.

Defensive end Nick Bosa.

Nowhere was this more apparent than during San Francisco's Week 11 home tilt against the Seattle Seahawks where the defense almost entirely shut down the Hawks offense when Bosa was on the field.

When Bosa exited late in the second half with oblique and hip issues, Seattle surged back with two touchdowns and claimed the 20-17 last-second victory.

Bosa's exit was a turning-point moment, one that defined his importance on the field.

Now, that importance is in question for a potential turning-point game for the 49ers at Lambeau Field.

Nick Bosa on his availability vs. Packers: 'We'll see'

On Wednesday, head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed Bosa would miss some of the week's practices and didn't commit one way or another to whether the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year would suit up for Week 12 at Green Bay.

"He definitely could be good for Sunday, and he definitely could not be good for Sunday," Shanahan said of Bosa.

Meanwhile, Bosa stressed his injury was different than the core injury suffered late during his collegiate days at Ohio State, which is obviously good. And he shed some hope on the possibility of getting back on the field for Week 12, too.

"It gets better every day," Bosa said in the Niners locker room, via NBC Sports Bay Area. "We'll see. Definitely a little early to call it either way, so we'll find out in a few days."

The Packers boast a top-10 offense, both in terms of points scored and yards gained, so having a presence like Bosa on the field is a vital component to how San Francisco will defend against quarterback Jordan Love and Co.

The 49ers found out the hard way against Seattle what it means to not have Bosa available.

Either way, the Niners hope he improves enough to be available when the two teams kick off on Sunday, Nov. 24 at 4:25 p.m. ET.

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