Defensive end Nick Bosa will have season-ending surgery Friday on his right ACL. In the meantime, general manager John Lynch will help navigate how the 49ers move forward without their second-highest-paid player.
“He’s one of the better players in football and so it’s a crushing blow to our team, but that’s what this sport is, you’re presented with challenges and hopefully it can be someone’s opportunity,” Lynch said Thursday on his weekly appearance on KNBR-680. “But one player won’t make up for Nick Bosa. You have to do it collectively. We’re pulling for Nick. He’ll have his surgery Friday.”
That doesn’t mean the 49ers won’t be eyeing potential pass rushers on other teams for a potential trade.
“That’s our job, to look at the market and see who might come available and I think our history shows, when you’ve got Trent Williams, Christian McCaffrey and the list goes on and on of the players we have acquired in a trade. We’re not afraid and have been effective doing that.”
The 49ers (3-0) host Jacksonville (2-1) Sunday (1:05 p.m., Fox) at Levi’s Stadium.
Just three games into the season, with most every team believing they have playoff potential, it’s unlikely a player such as Cincinnati defensive end Trey Hendrickson would be dangled in a trade. The Bengals are 2-1, but have lost quarterback Joe Burrow for three months. If their record, as well as other teams looking to deal, takes a turn for the worse by the Nov. 4 trade deadline, a trade becomes more possible.
“I do think we’re a deep group there and that’s going to be tested,” Lynch said. “I think we’re all aware, just finding someone that does what Nick Bosa does, that’s not very feasible, but we’ll see what’s out there at the appropriate time. But right now we’re going to have to rely on the guys we have and we believe in our group.”
One of the players expected to pick up the slack is Mykel Williams, the 49ers’ first-round draft pick (No. 11 overall). Williams has been particularly impressive in wins over New Orleans and Arizona, and won points from the coaching staff for reentering the game after spraining a wrist chasing Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray.
“I think the fans are seeing the same thing we’re seeing,” Lynch said. “He’s getting better each week. We’re asking a lot of Mykel . . . he’ll line up at right defensive end, left defensive end, a nine-technique and a six-technique. He’ll line up inside on a pass rush on the right side, on the left side. To ask that much of a young man, it’s a lot. But he’s shown an ability to handle it.”
Lynch confirmed the 49ers had purchased insurance available with the NFL that gives some salary cap relief to teams that lose a high-salary player.
“I think we’d much rather have Nick Bosa, but it can soften the blow from a financial standpoint and you get salary cap credits back,” Lynch said.
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Aiyuk `not close’ to returning
Although usually dressed in sweats and not suited up, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has been a regular presence at practice as his position group goes through the paces.
That doesn’t mean he’ll be back any time soon, however. The most optimistic timeline had Aiyuk back after six games following surgery for a torn ACL/MCL.
“There haven’t been any setbacks,” Lynch said. “There’s different levels with the ACL, Brandon had a significant injury. He’s a really gifted athlete and a really hard worker. There’s no absolutes on these things, he’s got to continue to hit markers. We’ll be a better team when Brandon’s out there, so we look forward to that day, but it’s not close. When we have some more info on that we’ll be forthright with it.”