SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers got a taste of what their defense looks like without Nick Bosa in the second half of a loss to the Seattle Seahawks. If Bosa has to miss any more time for San Francisco, it could be crushing to the 49ers' playoff hopes.
After being held in check for the first two-plus quarters on Sunday, the Seahawks drove for two touchdowns on three possessions after Bosa went out with an injury for a 20-17 comeback win over the Niners. Bosa expressed concern after the game that he might need to miss some time after injuring his hip and oblique on both sides of the body the past two weeks, but coach Kyle Shanahan left open the possibility on Monday that Bosa wouldn't have to miss a game. “We’ll see how it goes this week," Shanahan said.
"Just as good of a chance for him not to play as play. But unless it’s an injury that you know has him knocked out, you always can rule that out early. But when it’s not that case, you don’t decide those things on Mondays.
” The problems for the 49ers (5-5) are deeper than just missing Bosa even if his absence did coincide with Seattle's success on offense late in the game. This marked the third time this season that San Francisco blew a fourth-quarter lead to a division rival as the Niners failed to put the game away on offense or defense. That leaves the 49ers in a three-way tie for second in the NFC West, a game behind leader Arizona.
But with three division losses, the Niners have little marg.