"Nick Bosa's void would be easy to blame if the 49ers lose at home for the first time ever to the Jacksonville Jaguars, albeit in only their third-ever visit. Or it could be pinned on George Kittle's absence. Or Brock Purdy's tender toe. The 49ers haven't had to resort to such an excuse, so far. They're 3-0 by virtue of fourth-quarter escapes in one-score games each Sunday, ever since the season began with Bosa's win-clinching sack in Seattle."
"The 49ers strained this past week to utter the next-man-up cliche when it comes to Bosa's season-ending knee injury in last Sunday's 16-15 home-opening win over Arizona. It'll take a collective effort and/or a rising star to fill Bosa's void. The mission is still the same: We're going to find a way to get one win this week and figure out the rest later, linebacker Fred Warner said."
"The Detroit Lions' defense survived last season after losing star Aiden Hutchinson in Week 5, and even after injuries shelved a slew other defenders, and they still went 15-2 in the regular season. Cornerback Chase Lucas played on the 2022-23 Lions and watched that 2024 improbable survival while he was on the 49ers' practice squad. It was like the most injured team and it still went to the second round of the playoffs, recalled Lucas, now the 49ers' backup nickel back. It's all about next man up and we need to find out about the guys behind Bosa. We've got good (expletive) guys."
"When the 49ers last faced the Jaguars' Trevor Lawrence in November 2023, they sacked him five times, intercepted him twice and Bosa combined on a strip-sack with Chase Young in a 34-3, post-bye rout that launched the Niners' playoff push. Now, the 49ers' pass-rush threat will come from a defensive end combination of Bryce Huff, Mykel Williams, Sam Okuayinonu, and Yetur Gross-Matos."
Nick Bosa suffered a season-ending knee injury following the 49ers' 16-15 home-opening win over Arizona. The 49ers are 3-0 thanks to fourth-quarter escapes in one-score games, including Bosa's win-clinching sack in Seattle to open the season. Team leaders emphasize a next-man-up mentality and a collective effort to cover Bosa's absence, with linebacker Fred Warner urging the group to secure a win and sort out personnel later. The defensive front will operate by committee, drawing inspiration from the Lions' injury-survival example, and will rely on Bryce Huff, Mykel Williams, Sam Okuayinonu, and Yetur Gross-Matos for pass rush.
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