Fri Oct 03 01:00:00 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

The San Francisco 49ers’ defense struggled significantly in their first game without star defensive lineman Nick Bosa, who is out for the season with an ACL injury. They failed to pressure Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence and lost the game. Coach Kyle Shanahan acknowledged the team’s difficulty in generating consistent pressure without Bosa and the risks associated with blitzing agile quarterbacks. Facing the Los Angeles Rams next, they will face Matthew Stafford, who excels against the blitz. The 49ers must find a way to generate pressure without Bosa, either through improved four-man rushes or calculated blitzes, or they may need to consider a trade for another defensive end to maintain their competitiveness.

**News Article:**

**49ers Defense Falters in First Game Without Bosa, Face Pressure Problem**

**SAN FRANCISCO, CA** – The San Francisco 49ers suffered their first loss of the 2025 season to the Jacksonville Jaguars (26-21), and the game exposed a glaring problem: the absence of star defensive lineman Nick Bosa, who is out for the season with an ACL injury. The 49ers defense failed to record a single quarterback hit on Trevor Lawrence, highlighting the void left by the reigning Defensive Player of the Year.

“We didn’t blitz a ton in the game,” said Head Coach Kyle Shanahan. “I would love to have gotten more on him, but I thought they did a good job of getting rid of it quick… Always want to get more pass rush, but wasn’t a huge concern of that game.”

Shanahan acknowledged the challenge of generating consistent pressure without Bosa’s dominant presence. Blitzing presents its own risks against quarterbacks who can quickly process information and release the ball.

The 49ers’ next opponent, the Los Angeles Rams, features quarterback Matthew Stafford, who has thrived against the blitz this season. According to Pro Football Focus, Stafford has completed 64.4% of his passes against the blitz for 412 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.

The 49ers now face a critical decision: find a way to generate pressure with their remaining defensive line or risk being vulnerable. Some possible solution could be trade for another defensive end, or the defense will get aggressive with their pressure packages. The team must address this issue quickly to remain a contender in 2025.

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