The San Francisco 49ers continued their strong start to the 2026 NFL season with a 32-29 win over the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.
The victory improved San Francisco to 5-0 and left the team among just three remaining undefeated squads through five weeks.
The result came despite the continued absence of star edge rusher Nick Bosa, who has been sidelined by a calf injury suffered in practice ahead of Week 3.
Bosa has missed the past three games but has not been placed on injured reserve, keeping open the possibility of a return.
On Monday, head coach Kyle Shanahan addressed the team’s injury situation and offered a cautiously optimistic outlook on Bosa ahead of a Monday night game against the Washington Commanders.
With an extra day of preparation available, Shanahan indicated that Bosa has “a chance” to play.
The coach’s comments aligned with Bosa’s own assessment from the previous week, when the pass rusher described himself as “pretty darn likely” to return for Week 6.
Shanahan grouped Bosa with fullback Kyle Juszczyk and defensive lineman James Thompson Jr., noting that all three remain in a similar position.
“They’ve all got a chance, but definitely not saying they’re good to go right now,” Shanahan said. “We’ve got to continue to evaluate them throughout the week and it’ll take all week, but hopefully they can get there.”
The update arrives as the 49ers manage other absences.
Wide receiver Deebo Samuel is expected to miss multiple weeks with a hamstring injury, creating an additional challenge for an offense that has already operated without one of its most dynamic weapons.
San Francisco’s ability to remain undefeated while rotating through injuries has underscored the depth available to the coaching staff, though the return of a player of Bosa’s caliber would immediately strengthen the defensive front.
Monday night’s matchup against Washington will test whether that depth continues to hold and whether Bosa can make his way back onto the field.
Shanahan made clear that the decision will depend on how the players progress through the shortened week, with evaluations continuing in the days ahead.
For a 49ers team that has already navigated the early portion of the schedule without its premier pass rusher, even a limited contribution from Bosa could alter the defensive outlook as San Francisco looks to protect its perfect record.
