The San Francisco 49ers had been masking their injury losses well over the first seven weeks. Despite being without many of their key contributors at different points early in the 2025 NFL season, head coach Kyle Shanahan was able to keep the team afloat with a 5-2 record and a first place standing in the NFC West.
But things came undone against the Houston Texans on Sunday, and one of their most glaring needs became blindingly apparent.
49ers Have A Major Issue On Their Defensive Front
It was obvious that the team was going to miss Nick Bosa. The former Defensive Player of the Year and Pro Bowl regular was lost for the season back in Week 3 after tearing his Achilles, leaving a gaping hole in San Francisco’s defense. The team had brought in some depth for the pass rushing positions during the offseason, but with 53.5 sacks over the last four full years, Bosa was their crown jewel.
Only one team, Jacksonville, has fewer sacks than the 49ers. And the Jags (8 sacks) had their bye today.
Week-by-week 49ers sack total:
1
3
1
0
1
1
2
0
Total: 9— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) October 26, 2025
The production drop off has been drastic, and only one team has gotten to the opposing quarterback less often through eight weeks.
After two months of action and eight games played by the 49ers, the team has notched a total of just 9 sacks so far. In their five games without Bosa, they’ve recorded 1 or fewer sacks four times. Their total number of takedowns ranks them in 31st in the NFL in the category, tied with the Baltimore Ravens and just ahead of the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have 8.
Both Baltimore and Jacksonville have had their bye weeks already, though, meaning that the 49ers are averaging the fewest sacks per game in the league.
SF Should Be Active Ahead Of The Trade Deadline
On Sunday, the 49ers put limited pressure on Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud. They hit the quarterback twice and recorded a knockdown, but San Francisco’s defense failed to notch a single sack. It was the second time this season that they finished with a pass rushing goose egg.
The defense as a whole was a major issue, and the Texans picked up just their third win of the season by a score of 26-15.
How can they fix the problem? As we approach the trade deadline, there are more than a handful of pass rushers available, and San Francisco could look to bolster the position. Big names like Trey Hendrickson and Bradley Chubb have been floated as ideas, but the team would have to deal with the salary cap ramifications of bringing in a high-priced player.
They’ve had one of the softer schedules in the league thus far, but the 49ers still sit at 5-3 though eight weeks. They will travel cross-country to take on the New York Giants next Sunday, followed by a big divisional showdown against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 10.
