It took only 1 game for 49ers to realize how much they miss Nick Bosa

Late in 2024, the San Francisco 49ers defense saw firsthand what it'd be like without All-Pro defensive end Nick Bosa in the lineup, and the results weren't pretty.

In fact, the results without Bosa haven't been pretty ever since the Niners grabbed him in Round 1 of the 2019 NFL Draft.

Bosa, of course, suffered a torn ACL in San Francisco's Week 3 victory over the Arizona Cardinals, ending his season and putting coordinator Robert Saleh's defense in a massive bind for the rest of the season.

And a mere one game against the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 4 showcased just why Bosa is so important.

It's painfully obvious how much 49ers miss Nick Bosa

Granted, the 49ers did few favors against the Jags in the turnover department in the 26-21 loss versus head coach Liam Coen's squad. Yet the lack of Bosa gave opposing quarterback Trevor Lawrence more than enough time to begin picking apart Saleh's defense.

One particular drive in the second quarter was notably concerning.

A 13-play, 89-yard drive that lasted over eight minutes was beset by two Jacksonville penalties, but a key third-down conversion by rookie wide receiver Travis Hunter seemingly took whatever momentum the Niners had away.

And the lack of a pass rush ensured Lawrence wouldn't be under much duress at all.

The defender primarily responsible for stepping up in Bosa's absence, defensive end Bryce Huff, managed a tackle for a loss but was nowhere near the kind of disruptive X-factor Bosa is when healthy.

And San Francisco's duo of defensive line rookies, Mykel Williams and Alfred Collins, were notably quiet, too.

All told, Lawrence was neither sacked nor even hit during the debacle of a bout that featured plenty of problems for the 49ers beyond just Bosa's absence.

The lack of pass-rush production behind Bosa could easily prompt the 49ers to make a move for someone who could assist, and there's unquestionably going to be greater noise about the need to do so after how porous the Niners defense appeared against Lawrence and Co.

In the meantime, Saleh can at least look at Week 4 to see what didn't work as he prepares for the short week and a Thursday Night Football showdown against the Los Angeles Rams, who at least boast a horrid pass-blocking offensive line.