Niners Work Out Multi-Time Pro Bowler Following Nick Bosa Injury News

The injuries continue to pile up for the San Francisco 49ers, and Nick Bosa is the latest key player to go down.

Bosa suffered a calf injury during individual work ahead of Thursday’s practice and has already been ruled out for San Francisco’s Week 3 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said Bosa could miss “around a few weeks,” leaving the 49ers searching for ways to survive without one of the league’s premier edge rushers.

Replacing Bosa’s production is effectively impossible. The five-time Pro Bowler changes how opposing offenses have to block San Francisco’s defensive front and remains the centerpiece of the group. But the 49ers still have to find enough capable bodies to handle snaps and generate pressure until he returns.

That search has already begun.

San Francisco worked out four-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Matt Judon as part of a group that also included linebacker Jamin Davis and defensive ends Julian Okwara and Dawuane Smoot.

Judon owns by far the most accomplished resume of the group. During his peak, he was one of the NFL’s most productive pass rushers, particularly during his time with the New England Patriots. Judon recorded 28 sacks across the 2021 and 2022 seasons, including a career-high 15.5 sacks in 2022.

At 34 years old, though, Judon is no longer the same player he was at his peak. That doesn’t necessarily make him a poor fit for what San Francisco needs right now.

The 49ers aren’t looking for someone to become Nick Bosa. They need a veteran who can step into the rotation, absorb snaps and help keep the defensive front afloat for what they hope is a relatively short absence.

That distinction matters. This isn’t supposed to be a season-long replacement plan. If Bosa is back within a few weeks, San Francisco simply needs to bridge the gap without allowing his absence to derail what has been an excellent start to the season.

The 49ers haven’t signed Judon or any of the other players they worked out, but a move could come quickly given how thin the defensive line has become.

For now, San Francisco enters its matchup with Arizona at 2-0 and should still have enough talent to remain competitive even without Bosa. The larger concern is making sure the defense can hold up until its star pass rusher returns.

The conversation shouldn’t be about finding someone who can replace Bosa’s production. That player isn’t sitting on the free-agent market. It should be about surviving the next few weeks, finding dependable snaps on the edge and getting Bosa healthy for the stretch of the season when the 49ers will need him most.