The 49ers already have too many players on injured reserve and can no longer afford to keep adding players like Bosa. Teams can activate a maximum of eight players from injured reserve during the regular season, and the 49ers may already have all of those spots earmarked for players expected to return.
According to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area, the 49ers expect the following eight players to return from injured reserve at some point during the regular season:
- WR Christian Kirk (calf)
- WR Demarcus Robinson (ankle)
- WR De'Zhaun Stribling (ankle)
- OL Austen Pleasants (knee)
- DT C.J. West (knee)
- DE Sam Okuayinonu (foot)
- LB Nick Martin (hamstring)
- CB Nate Hobbs (groin)
Robinson is the latest addition to the injured reserve list. He suffered a high-ankle sprain in the 49ers' Week 2 win over the Miami Dolphins. Adding a player like Bosa or defensive tackle James Thompson, who also suffered a high-ankle sprain against the Dolphins, would mean one of those eight players would have to remain on injured reserve for the rest of the season.
For now, the 49ers will move forward with Bosa and Thompson on the active roster, listing them among the team's inactive players on game days while hoping both recover quickly and avoid setbacks.
The number of players already dealing with significant injuries underscores just how much the 49ers have endured on the injury front through the early stages of the season.
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