49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk Considered ‘Untradeable’
The 49ers want to extract some value for wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk via trade, but the Commanders, who have been viewed as the likeliest Aiyuk destination, reportedly have no interest in trading for him. Washington would only be interested in Aiyuk if he were to be released, and the same is apparently true for other clubs who might consider a flier on the 28-year-old.
Two rival executives tell ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that Aiyuk is simply “untradeable” (video link). At this point, the reasons for that are well-documented.
Aiyuk suffered a torn ACL and MCL in Week 7 of the 2024 season, less than two months after signing a four-year, $120MM extension. He landed on PUP to begin the 2025 campaign, and there was some belief he could make a late-season return to the lineup. But Aiyuk was described as “extremely distant” during his rehab, which led San Francisco to make the drastic decision to void the remaining guarantees on his contract.
More recently, we learned the Niners continue to have difficulties getting in touch with the Arizona State product, which Fowler confirmed. The fact that Aiyuk has been on the shelf since October 2024, the strange rift with his current club, and his contract situation have all conspired to make him an unappealing trade candidate.
Despite their decision to void Aiyuk’s remaining guarantees, the 49ers do owe him a ~$25MM option bonus in early September that, if exercised, would be prorated through 2030 (if declined, that money would be due all at once). Of course, an acquiring team would inherit that obligation, in addition to base salaries of $27.27MM in 2027 and $29.15MM in 2028. While those salaries are not guaranteed, the overall picture does not help GM John Lynch’s trade efforts.
However, the September option date does create a deadline that is still several months away, so Lynch can string the process along in the hopes that a WR-needy club decides to take a gamble. Fowler does not foresee that happening, though he does not completely foreclose the possibility that Lynch may still be able to salvage a trade here. Perhaps another team will deal with an injury or underperformance in training camp that will make the chance of Aiyuk replicating his stellar 2023 performance (75 catches for 1,342 yards and seven TDs) worth the risk.
As of Monday afternoon, Lynch will be able to release Aiyuk as a post-June 1 cut, thereby allowing him to spread a $35MM dead money charge over the 2026 and ‘27 seasons.
Extension Candidate: Tuli Tuipulotu
Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz told reporters back in mid-April that he was discussing contract extensions with two cornerstones, safety Derwin James and edge defender Tuli Tuipulotu. Hortiz has since hammered out an agreement with James, who signed a three-year, $75.6MM pact this week. The five-time Pro Bowler now tops his position in average annual value ($25.2MM).
While the 29-year-old James is a more established player than Tuipulotu, 23, the latter has been a highly productive player at a premium position. Between that and his age, Tuipulotu will reel in a larger extension than James. That’s assuming the Chargers lock up Tuipulotu, which seems like a strong possibility for a team that lacks long-term certainty at the position.
The Commanders lured Odafe Oweh out of Los Angeles with a four-year, $100MM offer in free agency, though the Chargers were able to retain the revered Khalil Mack for a guaranteed $18MM. While Mack remains a force, he is 35 and taking his career on a year-to-year basis. Bud Dupree, 33, will also be a free agent in a year, and he is coming off a career-low two sacks over 16 games in 2025.
With the goal of adding a strong prospect to the cupboard in this year’s draft, the Chargers spent the 22nd overall pick on former Miami standout Akheem Mesidor. If Mack is gone in a year, they could turn to an extended Tuipulotu and Mesidor as their top edge defenders in 2027 and beyond.
Tuipulotu, a Southern California native who attended USC, made a seamless transition to the pros after the Bolts drafted him in the second round in 2023. As a rookie, the 54th overall pick played a full 17-game season, made 11 starts and recorded a 73.96% defensive snap share, trailing only Mack among Chargers edge players. The oft-injured Joey Bosa missed eight games, but Tuipulotu stepped up with 53 tackles (eight TFL), 12 QB hits, 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.
Bosa was healthier during a 14-game 2024, though the Chargers continued to rely heavily on Tuipulotu. Although his total starts dropped to nine, he played a second straight 17-game campaign and led Chargers edge defenders in snap share (66.97%). Tuipulotu’s QB hits and sacks increased to 17 and 8.5, respectively, and he also chipped in 11 TFL. Along with his quality traditional numbers, he ranked 17th among all edge defenders in pass rush win rate.
The Chargers released Bosa in March 2025, and Mack went on to miss five games with a dislocated elbow. Their absences did not faze Tuipulotu, whose production exploded en route to his first Pro Bowl nod. Despite missing one game, the 6-foot-3, 266-pounder easily notched career bests in QB hits (23), TFL (20) and sacks (13). In addition to logging the league’s ninth-highest pressure rate, Tuipuloto showed off his prowess in the running game. Household names Maxx Crosby, Jared Verse and Byron Young were the only edge defenders to post a higher run stop win rate than Tuipuloto (31%).
Like Tuipulotu, Young is scheduled to become a free agent next March. Kayvon Thibodeaux, YaYa Diaby, Nick Herbig, Jermaine Johnson and Myles Murphy are a handful of other notable pass rushers who could hit the open market looking for multiyear deals. As the youngest of the bunch, Tuipulotu will likely have the highest potential earning power if he is still without a contract then.
Oweh, Jaelan Phillips and Trey Hendrickson each signed four-year deals worth between $24MM and $30MM per annum in free agency this offseason. Phillips is now one of nine edge defenders averaging $30MM per year, but Tuipuloto figures to add to the list this summer if an extension comes together. With the salary cap continuing to rise, something in the annual range of $32MM to $34MM may be in store for Tuipuloto, according to Daniel Popper of The Athletic. That would represent a massive increase over the $5.77MM he is on track to make this year, but he has made a legitimate case for that type of raise.
Odell Beckham Jr. To Work Out For Giants
MAY 31: Beckham will indeed work out for the Giants on Monday, per Schwartz. He already tried out for the team in April with both sides remaining in touch and interested in a high-profile reunion.
A signing may not happen in the immediate aftermath of Monday’s workout, but the Giants will want a deal in place by mandatory minicamp, which kicks off on June 8, according to Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post. Given the uncertainty around Beckham, who has not played since 2024, his contract would almost certainly be for one year, likely at or close to the veteran minimum with the opportunity to earn much more via incentives.
MAY 30: With injuries ravaging the Giants’ receiving corps, the team plans to add another wideout, Paul Schwartz of the New York Post reports. The Giants will work out receivers Monday, per Schwartz, who names free agent Odell Beckham Jr. as a likely participant.
Beckham, who starred with the Giants from 2014-18, met with the team back in April. Head coach John Harbaugh stayed in touch with Beckham afterward, though a potential reunion was put on the back burner. The Giants now appear more willing to turn to Beckham after losing receiver Gunner Olszewski to a torn Achilles in practice on Friday. The chances of them signing Beckham have gone from almost zero to around 50/50, according to Schwartz.
While Olszewski is not high on the Giants’ list of targets, his injury was the latest blow to their depth chart. No. 1 wideout Malik Nabers‘ has endured a difficult recovery from the torn ACL and meniscus he suffered last September. Nabers’ status for Week 1 is up in the air, while Darius Slayton is on the mend from core-muscle surgery. Their issues have left the Giants with nine healthy receivers, according to Schwartz, who notes they need more available for 7-on-7s and full team drills.
With Nabers and Slayton working back from their surgeries, Darnell Mooney, Calvin Austin, third-round rookie Malachi Fields, Isaiah Hodgins and Beaux Collins make up the Giants’ current top five. If Beckham joins the group, he would have to spend the summer months fighting for a roster spot. The fact that he doesn’t play special teams may work against him.
While Beckham boasts an impressive resume that includes 575 receptions, 59 touchdowns and three Pro Bowl trips, it is unknown if the 33-year-old is an NFL-caliber receiver anymore. He hasn’t taken the field since Dec. 8, 2024, when he was a member of the Dolphins. Beckham caught just nine passes for 55 yards in nine games that year. The 10-year veteran didn’t sign anywhere last season, but he still had to serve a six-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs.
Beckham’s original Giants stint ended when they traded him to the Browns in 2019 for a first-round pick (which became Dexter Lawrence), a third-rounder and safety Jabrill Peppers. In addition to those teams and the Dolphins, Beckham has suited up for the Rams and Ravens. Beckham played for Harbaugh in 2023 in Baltimore, where he pulled in 35 catches for 565 yards and three TDs over 14 games. The former star’s stock has continued dropping since then, but rejoining Harbaugh in New York would give Beckham a chance to earn his way back into the league.
Changes Coming To Eagles’ QB Room?
As a rookie second-round pick out of Oklahoma, the school to which he transferred after losing his starting job at Alabama to Tua Tagovailoa, Jalen Hurts was tasked with starting the final four games of the Eagles 2020 regular season after former No. 2 overall pick Carson Wentz was benched as the starter. Hurts debut as a starting passer in the NFL provided a mixed bag in those final four contests of the year, but Hurts has not relinquished the starting job from that point on.
This offseason, though things haven’t progressed far enough to threaten Hurts’ role as a starter in 2026, questions and concerns have been raised that could result in a number of changes to Philadelphia’s handling of the quarterback position. A joint report from ESPN’s Tim McManus and Jeremy Fowler in early April revealed that some blame for the team’s offensive struggles, though spread to several factors, is being placed on Hurts’ shoulders.
Specifically, sources with the team seem to indicate that Hurts’ unwillingness to diversify the offensive scheme has hamstrung the offense from progressing into something more. Pushing back on ideas as simple as going under center more, Hurts has been reluctant to rely on his arm in some zone-coverage situations and will “(divert) from the game plan and (change) playcalls to what some feel is an excessive degree.” It’s limited the team’s offense from progressing into a more complete passing attack and forced the unit to rely on the legs of star running back Saquon Barkley.
In the face of some recent struggles and losses, Hurts has been able to maintain a cool head, a useful attribute when one is in the heat of battle but one that can come off another way when the season is over. Sources in the building claim that some teammates read Hurts’ demeanor as “poor body language” or a sign that he’s “not always bought in” and “not the most coachable.” It’s something players are reportedly noticing, and now that it’s been made public, it’s become something he will need to actively work on.
Some of the blame that gets shifted off of Hurts goes to the lack of consistent coaching around him throughout his tenure in Philadelphia. Since taking over the starting job, Hurts has had five offensive coordinators in six seasons. The only season in which Hurts saw any consistency was when Shane Steichen got to be his play-caller for a second year in 2022. That season saw Hurts win 14 of his 15 starts and finish second in MVP voting, losing the award to the quarterback of the team that would defeat them in the Super Bowl that year.
Steichen left the team for a head coaching opportunity, and his successor, Brian Johnson, was fired when the team lost five of their last six games following a 10-1 start then made a first-round playoff exit. Kellen Moore found more success in Philadelphia the next year, leading the team to its second Super Bowl victory, but it required him to implement some new offensive concepts. Per McManus and Fowler, sources with the team “described the relationship between Moore and Hurts…as ‘tense’ at times,” but the two were able to find compromise as Hurts agreed to run some plays with more pre-snap motions and shifts.
Moore’s successor, Kevin Patullo, was fired after his only year as the team’s coordinator saw the offense take a major step backwards last year. While Patullo was “well-liked and respected in the building,” players reportedly “lost faith” in the play-caller. New offensive coordinator Sean Mannion has been tasked with un-sticking his unit. According to Zach Berman of The Athletic, Hurts will be expected to make quite a few more compromises in Mannion’s attempts to ‘blend’ the offense, and that will likely mean more work under center for the six-year veteran.
Another change in the QB room could concern the number of players in the room. Per Geoff Mosher of the PhillyVoice, “the Eagles are keeping four quarterbacks no matter what” in 2026. Already returning backup Tanner McKee alongside Hurts, the team traded for veteran backup Andy Dalton and drafted North Dakota State’s Cole Payton in the fifth-round. Initially, it was thought that Dalton was being brought in as overqualified QB3, but Berman noted that Dalton has been taking some QB2 reps over McKee in Organized Team Activities.
2026 will be a big season for Hurts as it appears more scrutinous eyes will be on him moving forward. Per McManus and Fowler, “there are no signs” that Hurts and the Eagles have begun working towards a new contract extension. Though there’s still plenty of time before that becomes a priority, there’s not much guaranteed money left on Hurts’ contract past this year. The combination of an uncertain financial future and increased bodies in the position room behind him may just be enough to push Hurts to make the necessary changes to jump start the Eagles offense moving forward.
Seahawks, Dante Fowler Agree To Deal
MAY 31: Fowler’s deal with the Seahawks has a base value of $2.5MM with just $500k guaranteed via a signing bonus, per ESPN’s Brady Henderson, the lowest of his career. He is also set to earn a $1.32MM salary and $680k in roster bonuses, as well as any of his $2.5MM in incentives he hits.
MAY 5: The Seahawks’ interest in Dante Fowler has been clear in recent days and weeks. Tuesday has indeed seen an agreement reached between team and player.
Fowler is signing with Seattle, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports. This will be a one-year deal worth up to $5MM, he adds. Fowler visited with the Super Bowl champions last month, and an agreement was still feasible after the draft.
Seattle lost Boye Mafe in free agency, leaving the team in need of at least a rotational presence to replace him. The Seahawks wound up making eight selections in the draft, but none were used on edge rushers. As a result, it comes as little surprise the team has turned to the free agent market deep into the offseason. Fowler will offer plenty in the way of experience along the edge in 2026.
The 31-year-old has racked up 159 appearances and 58 starts over the course of his career. Fowler has seen time with the Jaguars, Rams, Falcons, Cowboys and Commanders across his 10 NFL seasons. In Atlanta and then again in Dallas, he overlapped with Aden Durde, who is currently the Seahawks’ defensive coordinator. Durde’s unit was critical in Seattle’s run to the championship in 2025, and expectations will remain high next year. Fowler, who recorded double-digit sacks as recently as 2024, will look to contribute in the pass rush department.
Seattle still has Uchenna Nwosu, DeMarcus Lawrence and Derick Hall in place as returning edge rushers from last year. The members of that trio will be counted on to remain productive in 2026, but Fowler should have a notable role to play as well. The former No. 3 pick has logged a snap share of 52% or more three times in the 2020s. A workload closer to that of his Cowboys stints will be expected if the Seahawks remain healthy, though the value of this pact certainly points to Fowler being counted on to help replace Mafe’s production.
Seattle entered Tuesday with over $32MM in cap space, making a one-year addition such as this one an affordable option. Fowler has been playing on short-term deals dating back to 2020, so this arrangement will be nothing new to him. He collected $6MM with Dallas last season, and a similar payday should now be in store with the Seahawks.
Illinois Considering Publicly-Owned Bears Stadium In Chicago
The state of Illinois is not letting the Bears leave Chicago without a fight.
Earlier in May, the Bears released a statement explaining that they no longer saw a path to staying in the city and naming Chicago suburb Arlington Heights and Hammond, Indiana as the two finalists for the team’s new home. But the Illinois legislature is launching a last-gasp effort that would give municipalities in Cook County – which includes Chicago and Arlington Heights – to create a stadium authority to finance and lease a new arena to the Bears. The team would foot the bill for construction, but not property tax, as the stadium and the land it sits on would be owned by the municipality.
“They would essentially pay for the stadium, enter an agreement with the municipality — could be any municipality — and the municipality would open the building,” said state Sen. Bill Cunningham (via Mitchell Armentrout of the Chicago Sun-Times), who represents part of the South Side neighborhood of Chicago. He has led negotiations with the Bears and introduced this latest bill for a publicly-owned stadium in what he sees as a “common model” around the NFL.
Legislators are still working on hammering out the language of the bill, and time is of the essence. As in the NFL, June 1 is a key date in the Illinois Capital. Bills voted on after June 1 must be supported by 60% of the legislature if they take effect within a year. The Bears are looking to finalize their decision in the coming months, so the state must act quickly to approve this bill and give the team an alternate path to staying in Chicago.
This might be Chicago’s last chance to keep the Bears in the city. Arlington Heights will remain in play either way, but it is 30 miles northeast of Soldier Field, which is roughly the same distance from the proposed Hammond site in Indiana. If this bill can get approved by the legislature and signed into law by Governor J.B. Pritzker, Chicago would still to go through the prescribed process of creating a stadium authority and working out a deal for the Bears to build and occupy – but not own – a new stadium in the city.
It seems unthinkable that the Bears could be headquartered anywhere but Chicago. But the city has refused to offer public funds for a stadium, and a bill that would have offered substantial tax breaks passed the general assembly but not the state senate. Cunningham’s legislation offers a middle route in which the Bears pay for the stadium but face no tax bill since it will be publicly-owned.
Browns’ OL Rookies Getting First-Team Reps
The Browns are in the process of replacing all five starters on their offensive line, and in the effort of finding a new starting five, Cleveland utilized three of its 10 draft selections to address the position. The team spent a first- and third round pick on collegiate offensive tackles Spencer Fano (Utah) and Austin Barber (Florida), respectively, and a fifth-round pick on Alabama center Parker Brailsford. Zac Jackson of The Athletic detailed how each of the team’s rookies on the offensive line have been used so far in spring practices.
In rookie minicamp and early Organized Team Activities, Fano has been playing left tackle and Barber right, which is opposite where each player lined up at their respective alma maters. The team is hoping that Fano will eventually take a convincing hold of the starting left tackle job, but currently, Dawand Jones is getting the best look at that spot early on. Fano started at left tackle as a freshman with the Utes but has played right tackle ever since. It will certainly be a challenge to switch sides in his transition to a starting role in the NFL, but practicing against the likes of Myles Garrett everyday could to wonders for his development.
If Fano is able to unseat Jones, then Jones will go on competing with the next rookie, Barnes, for the primary swing tackle role. Jackson speculates that Barnes could also end up getting some looks at guard, which could be really beneficial for Barnes’ roster security if he isn’t able to secure the backup tackle role. Of the three rookies, Barnes has seen the least amount of time with the first-team offense, but it sounds like the team’s focus for him has been developing his versatility.
Unlike Barnes, Brailsford is reportedly seen only as a center, but that hasn’t stopped him from seeing his fair share of first-team reps. With presumed starting center Elgton Jenkins and fellow center Luke Wypler both not practicing, Brailsford has benefitted with a good amount of time on the first-team offense. Jenkins is still working his way back from the broken leg that ended his 2025 campaign, while Wypler is recovering from a knee injury.
Realistically, only Fano is expected to earn a starting job in his first year of NFL play, but Brailsford and Barnes both have big opportunities in front of them, if they can impress in these early looks. With Wypler and Jones on expiring deals in 2026, both rookies will be given the chance to convince the team to allow the veterans to walk in free agency.
Latest On Lions’ Injuries: Branch, LaPorta, Arnold
During Organized Team Activities this week, Lions head coach Dan Campbell addressed the latest on the recovery efforts of a few players who suffered season-ending injuries last year, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. The name of the game for Detroit this offseason appears to be “patience” as Campbell was in no hurry to see any of his injured players rushed back for OTAs and mandatory minicamp.
Starting safety Brian Branch may require the most patience. After tearing the Achilles tendon in his right leg late last year, Branch is reportedly “not expected to be ready for the start of training camp in late July.” Fellow starting safety Kerby Joseph missed the last 11 games of the year “due to a degenerative condition in his knee.” The two had become a reliable duo in the Lions’ defensive outfield, and their extended absences forced Detroit to invest in some insurance in free agency this offseason.
Lions tight end Sam LaPorta is working his way back from a herniated disc in his back and “has taken part in ‘some walk-through (and) jog-through’ portions of practice this spring.” Though he is back on the field early, Detroit will continue to practice patience as LaPorta “is not expected to be a full participant in practice until training camp.” The same was true for cornerback Terrion Arnold, who is being slow-played as he works his way back from season-ending shoulder surgery in the hope that he’ll be healthy when the team opens the season.
Though Campbell did not provide an update on Joseph’s recovery timeline, he relayed that none of Branch, Joseph, or LaPorta were expected to participate this past week. “The most important thing is continue to let them improve, rehab, all that,” Campbell told reporters. “That’ll take precedence right now. So, they’re in meetings, they’re getting the mental side of this. Just take it day to day.”
Saints Approaching Decision On RB Alvin Kamara
MAY 31: With June nearly here, it doesn’t seem like any decisions have been made in regard to Kamara. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, “there hasn’t been a lot of traction yet on the Saints’ direction with Kamara, but there is some interest” in Kamara potentially coming back, perhaps on a revised deal. Cutting or trading him before June 1 was always out of the question as it would do little to alleviate his cap impact.
Cutting Kamara post-June 1, though, could have a potential two-year effect. His cap hit in 2026 would only be reduced $376K, but his 2027 void year cap hit would reduce from $16.26MM to $5.13MM. Trading Kamara post-June 1 has the most benefit if New Orleans is looking to unload Kamara’s contract, providing $3.38MM in cap savings this year and $11.13MM next year. If Fowler is correct and a restructure remains on the table, Kamara may have to agree to a pay cut in order to stay and compete with Etienne for touches.
MAY 18: Alvin Kamara‘s place with the Saints became cloudy after the team shelled out a big contract to Travis Etienne, who received a hefty guarantee to join Kellen Moore‘s roster in March. Kamara drew trade interest soon after Etienne’s commitment, but he remains on New Orleans’ offseason roster.
Mickey Loomis said Kamara does not currently have a decision to make on his contract, which points to the Saints not yet insisting on a pay cut. But uncertainty still exists here. The longtime Saints GM said the team is moving toward a decision on the decorated dual-threat back.
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“We’re just trying to see how he’s going to fit in our roster, and obviously there’s a resource management element to it, and we’ll get to that over the next week or two,” Loomis said, via NewOrleans.football.
The 25th-year Saints front office boss said OTAs provides “a little bit” of a deadline but cautioned the voluntary workouts — which Kamara has not attended in years — do not serve as the endpoint for the sides’ latest chapter. New Orleans’ OTAs begin May 27. Kamara would see his base salary reduced by $358K if he does not attend every Saints OTA workout, ESPN.com’s Katherine Terrell notes.
Kamara, 31 in July, is entering the final season of a two-year, $24.5MM extension. He is due a $1.35MM base salary but secured $3MM in guaranteed 2026 compensation in March 2025. Being that this is the Saints, a sizable dead money hit would come if Kamara is traded or released.
Loomis’ timeline seemingly aligns with the pivotal June 1 date. The Saints likely will not act before that point, as making a move after that date would be a more cost-effective solution (with regards to 2026). Parting with Kamara after June 1 would allow the Saints to spread the dead cap charges over the next two years. Cutting him after that date would take away around $900K in cap space, whereas a summer trade would save the Saints approximately $456K.
The Saints would be hit with $24.4MM if they cut Kamara, but making that move after June 1 would allow them to spread that penalty between their 2026 and ’27 payrolls. Four void years being included in this deal represents the primary dead money source if Kamara is jettisoned.
Loomis’ team was in the strange position of not carrying the NFL’s worst cap situation entering the offseason, which deviates from several years of the restructure-crazed franchise’s winter situations. The Saints hold $8.29MM in cap space. Nearly 12 months from the 2027 league year, New Orleans is projected to hold more than $48MM in cap space in 2027. Though, many variables between now and then will change the equation.
Etienne signed a four-year, $48MM deal that includes $24MM guaranteed. The ex-Jaguar’s fully guaranteed figure ranks sixth among running backs, matching Christian McCaffrey‘s 2024 extension. The Saints also have holdovers Kendre Miller and Devin Neal rostered; Neal was drafted to play in Moore’s system while Miller — who is in a contract year — arrived under Dennis Allen. Former Vikings backup Ty Chandler is also on the Saints’ roster.
It would seem the Saints could get by without Kamara, given Etienne’s presence. Kamara’s five-year run of Pro Bowls stopped after the 2021 season — Sean Payton‘s New Orleans finale — and he averaged a career-low 3.6 yards per carry last season. This came after a bounce-back 2024, when the ex-Payton chess piece tallied 1,493 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns in 14 games. Kamara missed the team’s final six games last season with an MCL sprain. He also missed time to close the ’24 season, battling a groin injury. Altogether, Kamara has missed 19 games since 2021.
Teams will undoubtedly be interested in a free agency agreement if the Saints move on via release. Kamara came out against a trade before last year’s deadline, indicating he would potentially retire rather than be dealt away from New Orleans. With Etienne in the fold, it is worth wondering if the Pro Bowl RB’s stance has changed. We should find out soon, with the June 1 date — even as the A.J. Brown situation overshadows other NFL matters pertaining to the pivotal point on the NFL calendar — will provide some clarity.
49ers DE Nick Bosa ‘Pretty Far Along’ In Recovery From Torn ACL
The 49ers overcame a rash of injuries last year to go 12-5 and advance to the divisional round of the playoffs. Defensive end Nick Bosa was among 49ers cornerstones who couldn’t get through 2025 healthy. The five-time Pro Bowler’s season ended when he tore his right ACL in Week 3, but he is trending in a positive direction roughly eight months later.
Speaking with reporters this week, Bosa said he is “pretty far along” in his recovery (via Nick Wagoner of ESPN). Bosa also expressed optimism that he will be ready for the start of training camp in late July. That would not come as a surprise, as Wagoner notes the 49ers have been anticipating either a late-July or early August return. There was no damage to other ligaments or his meniscus, leading to a less arduous rehab process.
A couple of months after Bosa’s season ended, fellow defensive end Mykel Williams went down with a torn ACL in Week 9. The 2025 first-round pick is also on the right track in his recovery.
With limited contributions from Bosa and Williams, the 49ers totaled the NFL’s fewest sacks (20) and finished a similarly poor 29th in pass rush win rate. Bryce Huff and Clelin Ferrell tied for the team lead with four sacks apiece, but the former retired and the latter has gone unsigned since free agency opened in March. Nevertheless, the 49ers have not taken any home run swings at the position this offseason. They signed former Bengal Cameron Sample to a cheap deal in April and then spent a third-round pick (70th overall) on Romello Height a couple of weeks later.
If healthy, Bosa and Williams will top a depth chart that also includes Keion White and Sam Okuayinonu. White was shot in the ankle in a scary incident in February, but he quickly underwent successful surgery. However, it is unclear whether he will be good to go for the beginning of camp.
“They’re coming along,” head coach Kyle Shanahan said of his recovering pass rushers (via Wagoner). “They’re all in there rehabbing with a number of other guys. A couple of those guys will have chance of training camp. We’ll see with Mykel as he goes.”
As if losing Bosa in September wasn’t enough of a blow, the 49ers took another severe hit when superstar linebacker Fred Warner dislocated his ankle in a Week 6 loss to the Buccaneers in October. It initially looked as if Warner had no chance to return in 2025. The 49ers advised him to focus on 2026 at first, per Matt Barrows of The Athletic, but changed their tune when they saw how well he was coming along. They went on to designate Warner to return from IR on Jan. 13, four days before they faced the Seahawks in the second round. Warner did not end up playing in Seattle, which beat San Francisco in a 41-6 rout, but may have taken the field had the 49ers gotten to the NFC title game.
Barring any unforeseen setbacks, Bosa and Warner should be in the starting lineup when the 49ers’ season kicks off in Australia on Sept. 10. They will take on the NFC West rival Rams in a battle of teams with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations.