TL;DR
- Nick Bosa will not return this season due to a torn ACL suffered in Week 3.
- Fred Warner will also not return this season due to a season-ending ankle injury.
- Both Bosa and Warner are expected to be ready for the 2026 NFL season.
With edge rusher Nick Bosa and linebacker Fred Warner both sidelined on injured reserve due to their injuries, the San Francisco 49ers are lacking two crucial components of their defense heading into their Week 12 matchup against the Carolina Panthers.
Bosa has not appeared in a game since all the way back in Week 3, when he suffered a torn ACL in the win over the Arizona Cardinals.
Warner has been absent since he sustained a dislocated and broken ankle in the Week 6 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
You can likely surmise the direction this is heading, but here's what's known regarding Bosa's and Warner's remaining season availability.
Will Nick Bosa be back in 2025?
No, Bosa will not be back this season.
Recovering from a torn ACL usually takes approximately nine months. Fortunately for Bosa, his tear was clean, which should contribute to a more straightforward recovery process.
"I was told it's as clean as it gets," head coach Kyle Shanahan said. "In terms of if you have an ACL, I was told that's the kind that you want."
Knowing that, Bosa should be ready to go well before the 2026 campaign begins.
Fred Warner back 2025?
No, Warner won't be back, either.
The dislocated and broken ankle he suffered is as bad as it sounds. It's a season-ending injury that will require a lengthy recovery.
The 49ers head coach revealed that Warner's recovery timeline is about three months, but he wouldn't commit to that.
"I think, usually, things like this are around three months," Shanahan said. "But I haven't asked all the questions you guys are asking me yet. But I assume he'll be good for the offseason workouts and stuff like that."
Like Bosa, Warner will be good to go well before the 2026 season starts.
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