A year ago, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan’s press conferences revolved around managing playing time for his star-studded roster, debating Brock Purdy’s MVP candidacy, and deciding whether his defensive coordinator should work from the sidelines or the press box.
Those “problems” highlighted the dominance of a team that was clearly the NFC’s best in 2023.
Fast forward to this season, and the situation is starkly different. The 49ers’ injury list continues to grow, with top-tier stars sidelined almost weekly. Now sitting at 5-7 after two seasons with a combined 25-9 record, the team’s postseason hopes have dwindled to just 10%, according to NFL.com projections.
While Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason are likely done for the season, Shanahan did offer some optimism during Wednesday’s media address: All-Pro defensive lineman Nick Bosa could return to action soon.
Nick Bosa Battling Oblique Injury
Bosa’s potential return, however, depends on circumstances beyond Shanahan’s control. The defensive star has been out of action since November 17 due to an oblique injury and has missed recent practices.
“I mean, I’m not God, but I think he’s got a chance to play this week,” Shanahan explained. “So I would think that would lead to a better chance each week. But I don’t know the answer to that.”
Bosa’s presence could provide much-needed help for the 49ers’ defense, which has struggled significantly against the run. Over the past two weeks, San Francisco has allowed 73 points to the Packers and Bills, with six rushing touchdowns combined.
49ers’ Struggles Against the Run
The team’s run defense was particularly exposed against the Bills, who racked up 153 rushing yards. This marked the fifth time this season the 49ers have allowed 150+ rushing yards in a game. Adding to their woes, San Francisco has allowed three rushing touchdowns in four separate games and ranks 31st in the league with 19 rushing touchdowns conceded.
Shanahan on Defensive Issues
When asked about the ongoing struggles against the run, Shanahan didn’t mince words:
“The bottom line is we haven’t played good enough run defense. You look at all of our losses—these last two weeks have been as bad as it gets. Especially when you give up the run game like we have in the first half, the game’s almost over before it starts. I still thought we had every chance to make it a game in the second half, but that’s when we had our three turnovers in both games, which leads to blowouts.”
Shanahan noted that poor run defense has been a consistent issue in their losses this season.
“In all our losses, the least amount of rushing yards we’ve given up is close to 150. That starts with players being out of gaps. It can be missed tackles, not getting off the field on third downs, which leads to more runs being called. It can also be missed assignments or not forcing turnovers. So it’s all of the above.”
