Buckner, Armstead among those that will not play against Broncos

Most analysts already view Nick Bosa as one of the best pass rushers in the NFL. He racked up nine regular-season sacks as a rookie and added four more in the playoffs. This year, he leads the San Francisco 49ers with five sacks. While the accolades have come due to Bosa's ability to frustrate opposing quarterbacks, the talented defensive end believes he and a teammate might actually be vastly underrated when it comes to another category. Bosa has proven himself to be a great overall player, remaining in the game during run plays. He ranks fifth against the run among edge rushers with over 55 snaps, per Pro Football Focus' grading system. "I love the run game because it just gets me going in the game," Bosa said after today's practice. "And if the

Sunday night will be a reunion for many San Francisco 49ers players. All-Pro defensive tackle DeForest Buckner will return to Levi's Stadium for the first time since being traded to the Indianapolis Colts in 2020. "He was the heart and soul when he was here, man," safety Jimmie Ward said of Buckner after today's practice. "I wasn't happy about [the trade], but I understand the business side. I'm pretty sure you all knew something was going to happen, just like I did. I just didn't know what was going to happen. "When that happened, like I said, it was bittersweet. We ended up getting [Javon] Kinlaw, and we ended up getting Brandon Aiyuk. But we lost a leader, especially a leader on the defense. Really, a leader on this team, in this building. But he's

DeForest Buckner will return to Levi's Stadium for the first time since the San Francisco 49ers traded the defensive lineman to the Indianapolis Colts last year. On Wednesday, he jumped on a conference call with 49ers reporters and reflected on the surprising move. "In the moment, when you told me, when it was official, when I got traded, the feelings that I was feeling, if you told me that I was going to feel this way a year-and-a-half later, I would have said you're crazy," Buckner told reporters. "But everything happens for a reason, and the Lord put me here for a reason, and I'm very happy for the decisions that were made." Money was obviously an obstacle in San Francisco holding onto the talented defender. Buckner said the 49ers never offered him anything

Jimmy Garoppolo will probably start when the San Francisco 49ers host DeForest Buckner and the Indianapolis Colts at Levi's Stadium this weekend. For Buckner, it will be his first time stepping into the stadium since the 49ers traded him to the Colts last year. "It's definitely weird being on the other side, watching film on [them]," Buckner admits. "Obviously, they've got a bunch of new faces since I've been gone, but [also] a lot of similar faces on that side of the ball, a lot of guys that I call brothers and friends. It's weird, definitely. "I know it's going to feel weird once I get to the stadium, and get to the opponent's locker room, and little things like that. It's definitely going to be kind of weird, but I'm excited." While Buckner and