SANTA CLARA — The post game press conference with 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan was nearing, with the last question dealing with the absence of Nick Bosa and the possibility of a trade.
Shanahan didn’t feel the need to expound on the obvious.
“You don’t replace Nick Bosa,” Shanahan said.
While a 26-21 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday at Levi’s Stadium can’t entirely be laid at the feet (or right knee) of their best and highest paid defender, it was clear Bosa’s absence due to a torn ACL has changed the 49ers’ defense for the worse.
The 49ers never did sack Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence, whose jersey was kept clean while going 21-for-31 for 174 yards and a touchdown. Not that Lawrence gave the 49ers much of a chance, with a most of his throws of the high-percentage, get-the-ball-out variety.
According to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco, it was the first time the 49ers had no sacks or quarterback hits in a game since 2015 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“We were getting some pressure, but it wasn’t enough,” rookie defensive end Mykel Williams said. “He gets rid of it quick. We talk about interceptions and punching the ball out all the time, and it’s something we’ve got to accumulate.”
And it didn’t help that Jacksonville had 151 yards rushing, with Travis Etienne gaining 124 yards on 19 attempts including a 48-yard touchdown burst to put the Jaguars up 7-3.
Where the 49ers came up short was in taking the ball away, finishing with no fumble recoveries and no interceptions.
The 49ers have actually some damage with fumble recoveries, with Bosa closing out the opener against Seattle with a strip sack of Sam Darnold and Bryce Huff doing the same against Spencer Rattler of New Orleans in Week 2. Linebacker Fred Warner is one of the NFL’s best at punching the ball loose.
But fumble recoveries are more of a roll of the dice, because footballs can bounce in funny ways. Interceptions, however, are another matter. And the 49ers through four games are the NFL’s pickless wonders without a single interception.
Dating back to last season, the 49ers haven’t had an interception in 11 games.
The 49ers almost had one Sunday — probably should have had one.
With the 49ers trailing 17-14 after an 8-yard Brock Purdy-to-Christian McCaffrey shovel pass and a two-point pass to Jauan Jennings, rookie slot corner Upton Stout jumped a pass short and over the middle from Lawrence to rookie No. 2 overall draft pick Travis Hunter.
Stout intercepted the ball cleanly at the Jacksonville 49. It was the momentum surge provided by the defense the 49ers desperately needed. Instead, a flag came out. Stout was called for pass interference penalty.
“Looked like a hell of a play,” Shanahan said.
The 49ers forced a punt, but Jacksonville was able to do what the 49ers couldn’t when Devin Lloyd got his second interception of Purdy and the Jaguars got a field goal on a 44-yard attempt by Cam Little ot make it 20-14.
In all, the Jaguars took away four times to none for the 49ers.
Warner lamented getting his hands on balls twice that he failed to come down with. They weren’t easy plays, but they were plays he’s made before. And plays that will need to be made when the 49ers (3-1) visit the Los Angeles Rams (3-1) Thursday night at SoFi Stadium in an early season AFC West showdown.
“I hate to say that it’s just not bouncing our way, but I look at those two that I could have had today, making the most of those opportunities,” Warner said. “Upton Stout had one called back on a penalty. It’s just continuing to find ways to get it. Luckily we have a short week to try and right that wrong and get some Thursday night.”
Life was easier with Bosa was around. He is a highly underrated run defender and when he’s not getting sacks he’s forcing quarterbacks to throw out of rhythm. And while the trade deadline could bring pass rushing help, the deadline isn’t until Nov. 4.
In other words, Trey Hendrickson of the Cincinnati Bengals isn’t coming to 4949 Marie P. DeBartolo Way any time soon. And probably not at all.
Travis Hunter (12) is all by himself leaping to catch a pass against the 49ers defense Sunday at Levi’s Stadium. Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group
The 49ers appear tied together under defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, more so than they were under either Steve Wilks or Nick Sorenson. They swarm to the ball, play faster and with more alacrity. There is no substitute for talent, however, and all the heart and hustle in the world isn’t going to compensate for playing the rest of the season without Bosa.
With the offense still without George Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk and a running game struggling to regain traction, the 49ers can’t be just good on defense. They need to be very good, and getting the requisite takeaways is Job 1.
Defensive end Sam Okuayinonu said Bosa or no Bosa, the defense has to find a way.
“If the offense can’t find a way to win, we’ve got to put it on our shoulders,” Okuayinonu said. “Nick ended Week 1 with a sack, Huff ended Week 2 with a sack. We’ve got to find a way to keep it going.”
As promising as the first few weeks were, none of the opponents qualify as offensive juggernauts. That’s going to change. The Rams beat the previously unbeaten Indianapolis Colts 27-20, have one of the NFL’s top runners in Kyren Williams plus one of the NFL’s best pure passers in Matthew Stafford throwing to Puka Nacua and Davonte Adams.
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Looking at it another way, the defense wasn’t much different than it was in the three wins in terms of points allowed given that Jacksonville had six of its points on an 87-yard punt return by Parker Washington. The 49ers were giving up 19.9 points per game and the defense gave up 20 against the Jaguars.
“You put it behind you. It’s pretty obvious you’re not going to win a game if you’re four-oh in the turnover battle,” Warner said. “Our run defense was horrible. If we had played even a little bit better — let’s say we were two-oh in the turnovers, maybe we win that game. It was great to hang in there and be down five, but that’s not winning football at all.”