Nov 17, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa (97) waits on the sidelines against the Seattle Seahawks in the third quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images

49ers star defensive end Nick Bosa to miss third straight game

San Francisco 49ers star defensive end Nick Bosa will miss his third straight game after being downgraded to out for Sunday’s contest against the Chicago Bears.

Bosa has been sidelined by hip and oblique injuries. He didn’t practice at all this week.

Bosa has seven sacks in 10 games. He won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2022.

San Francisco activated safety Talanoa Hufanga (wrist) from injured reserve. He was limited in practice all week.

Hufanga tore ligaments in his wrist during a game against the Arizona Cardinals on Oct. 6.

Hufanga had also missed the first two games this season as he finished up rehab from an ACL injury. He injured his right knee against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in November 2023.

The 49ers also placed leading rusher Jordan Mason (ankle) and safety George Odum (knee) on injured reserve. Mason has rushed for 789 yards and three touchdowns.

Earlier in the week, San Francisco placed running back Christian McCaffrey (knee) on IR. The 2023 NFL Offensive Player of the Year was hurt during last Sunday’s 35-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Rookie Isaac Guerendo is now the 49ers’ top healthy back. He has a stellar 5.9 average per carry while rushing for 246 yards and two scores.

Also, offensive lineman Aaron Banks (concussion) was downgraded to out.

The 49ers (5-7) have lost three straight games and are in last place in the NFC West.

–Field Level Media

Aug 23, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive end Leonard Floyd (56) is helped off the field after sustaining an apparent injury while playing against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first quarter at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

49ers DE Leonard Floyd (knee) avoids serious injury

Prized free-agent acquisition Leonard Floyd avoided a serious knee injury in San Francisco’s preseason finale, 49ers coach Mike Shanahan said Sunday.

Floyd injured his right knee during the first quarter of Friday’s 24-24 tie against the host Las Vegas Raiders. He underwent an MRI exam on Saturday.

Shanahan termed Floyd as “day to day” on a conference call with reporters on Sunday.

Floyd, 31, matched his career high of 10.5 sacks while playing for the Buffalo Bills last season. He signed a two-year, $20 million deal with the 49ers as a free agent in March.

Floyd has 39.5 sacks over the past four seasons, recording at least nine in each of the campaigns. He is expected to provide the 49ers with an improved pass rush on the other defensive side of 2022 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa.

Overall, Floyd has 58 sacks in 121 games (120 starts) in eight NFL seasons with the Chicago Bears (2016-19), Los Angeles Rams (2020-22) and Bills (2023).

Another defensive end, Yetur Gross-Matos, also injured his right knee against the Raiders. Shanahan termed Gross-Matos as “week to week” after getting his MRI results back.

While Shanahan is hopeful Gross-Matos won’t need to be placed on injured reserve, he also wasn’t ready to predict that Gross-Matos will be ready for the season opener against the visiting New York Jets on Sept. 9.

“We’ll see how this week goes, and hopefully he’ll have a chance to get back in practice for Week 1,” Shanahan said of Gross-Matos. “But we haven’t mentioned anything about IR.”

Gross-Matos, 26, signed a two-year, $18 million deal as a free agent in March.

Last season, Gross-Matos had a career-high 4.5 sacks in 12 games with the Carolina Panthers. He missed five games due to a hamstring injury.

Overall, Gross-Matos appeared in 55 games (32 starts) with 142 tackles and 13 sacks in four seasons with the Panthers.

Also, Shanahan said that Talanoa Hufanga (knee) might open the season on the physically unable to perform list, a move that would require the standout safety to miss the first four games. Shanahan said a decision would be made prior to Wednesday’s practice.

Hufanga sustained a torn ACL in his right knee against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last November. The 2022 Pro Bowl selection has seven interceptions and 181 tackles in 42 games (30 starts) over three seasons.

–Field Level Media

Jan 8, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham (55) in action against the New York Giants during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: NFL fines Eagles’ Brandon Graham, three 49ers

Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham and three San Francisco 49ers players received fines from the NFL, multiple media outlets reported.

The NFL docked Graham $13,261 for unsportsmanlike conduct for his actions during last Sunday’s NFC Championship Game. Graham was not penalized during the game — a 31-7 victory by the Eagles.

San Francisco left tackle Trent Williams, a 12-year veteran, was fined $12,731 for unnecessary roughness after he was ejected for throwing Eagles safety K’Von Wallace to the ground. The fine was the second in the career of Williams, who was docked $7,875 for punching then-Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman following a wild-card game in 2012.

Niners linebacker Dre Greenlaw was fined for the second time in as many weeks and third time this season when he was docked $10,430 for an unnecessary roughness in the fourth quarter of last Sunday’s game. Greenlaw repeatedly attempted to punch the ball out of the hands of Eagles running back Kenneth Gainwell after the play ended.

Greenlaw was punished in the wallet for a hit on Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert in Week 10 and a late hit on Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott in the NFC divisional round.

San Francisco safety Talanoa Hufanga was fined $4,916 for hitting Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts out of bounds in the third quarter on Sunday.

–Field Level Media

Dec 12, 2020; Pasadena, California, USA; Southern California Trojans safety Talanoa Hufanga (15) celebrates after an interception in the fourth quarter against the UCLA Bruins at Rose Bowl. USC defeated UCLA 43-38.  Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Southern California star S Hufanga declares for NFL draft

Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year Talanoa Hufanga announced Wednesday that he is leaving Southern California and entering the NFL draft.

Hufanga, a junior safety, has received multiple first-team All-America honors after a sensational season that included 62 tackles, four interceptions, three sacks and two forced fumbles in just six games.

Hufanga made his announcement on social media.

“It is truly an honor to wear the Cardinal and Gold and have the opportunity to earn a degree from one of the most prestigious universities in the nation,” Hufanga wrote. “After much thought and discussion, I have decided to declare for the 2021 NFL Draft. My experiences over the last three years have been some of the greatest of my life and I will cherish them forever.”

Hufanga finishes his USC career with 203 tackles, four interceptions and four forced fumbles in 24 games (21 starts). He recorded 16.5 tackles for loss, including 6.5 sacks.

–Field Level Media