San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan described Nick Bosa's current knee issue as a normal part of the recovery process following his ACL surgery.
Bosa is considered week-to-week due to tendinitis in his surgically repaired right knee and has missed practice because of the soreness. Shanahan indicated that this type of tendinitis occurs in approximately 90 percent of ACL recoveries and does not represent structural damage.
"Pretty normal thing with ACLs," Shanahan said, according to Cam Inman. "Gotta be smart and be week-to-week. No concerns about it being more than that."
Despite the team's assurances, the week-to-week designation marks a setback for the star pass rusher. Bosa appeared in only three games last season before tearing his right ACL against the Arizona Cardinals, an injury that ended his season prematurely in September and caused him to miss the final 14 games.
This is the third ACL tear of Bosa's football career. He previously injured the same knee in high school before tearing the ACL in his left knee during the 2020 season. This history means any issue involving his right knee will draw significant attention, irrespective of the team's current confidence.
Bosa had recently expressed optimism about returning to form, telling Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer that his surgeon had addressed chronic tendinitis in his right knee during the ACL repair procedure. Bosa believed this, along with a reduction in leg mass, would improve his speed and movement.
The 49ers have time to be cautious before their Sept. 10 season opener against the Los Angeles Rams. The team's defense is expected to rely heavily on a healthy Bosa, and while preseason snaps may not be as crucial as a stable knee, the situation remains under scrutiny until Bosa returns to full practice.