49ers DC Raheem Morris has zero worries about Nick Bosa’s return

The San Francisco 49ers are still easing two of their most important defenders through training camp, but defensive coordinator Raheem Morris made it clear he has little concern about either Nick Bosa or Dre Greenlaw being ready when it matters most.

Bosa has missed portions of camp while ramping back up, yet Morris believes the former Defensive Player of the Year has already done the hard part.

Bosa’s limited workload has been one of the biggest storylines of training camp, but the 49ers have repeatedly emphasized there’s no cause for concern.

The All-Pro defensive end is less than a year removed from suffering a right ACL tear in his right knee against the Arizona Cardinals in September. During surgery, doctors also cleaned up a chronic quad tendon issue that dated back to high school.

Bosa has progressed smoothly through rehab, returning for offseason work and training camp while occasionally sitting out practices as a precaution for general soreness.

“He’s played a lot of football. He’s got a lot of banked reps in his history,” Morris said. “He’s very smart. He’s been able to be out there to get all the mental reps. He’s a special player, and you plan around special players.”

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 21: Nick Bosa #97 of the San Francisco 49ers walks to the locker room during the second quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi’s Stadium on September 21, 2025 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Kavin Mistry/Getty Images)

More on Nick Bosa & Dre Greenlaw

Those comments reinforce what the 49ers have emphasized throughout camp. Rather than rushing Nick Bosa back into full-team work, San Francisco has prioritized having its defensive cornerstone healthy for the regular season.

Morris added that Bosa has continued increasing his workload during individual drills and expects him to quickly pick up the adjustments made to the defense.

While Nick Bosa remains the centerpiece of the pass rush, Greenlaw’s return could be just as impactful.

The veteran linebacker recently introduced the term “fever backer” when describing his role, and Morris expanded on exactly what that means.

“They can play star for you. They can play outside edge. They can get at the line of scrimmage. They can use their hands,” Morris explained. “We’ve got some guys on our team that got some real unique skill sets. Being able to use those guys, I think, is important.”

That versatility has become a recurring theme throughout camp as Morris cross-trains multiple defenders to handle different responsibilities depending on the matchup.

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 28: Dre Greenlaw #57 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after a stop during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions in the NFC Championship Game at Levi’s Stadium on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Greenlaw’s physical style also appears to be returning after working through some soreness.

“I’ll never get tired of Dre, but it is nice when he’s out there playing as well,” Morris said. “He’s eager. I know you guys see him out there in full pads today. He’s ready to go.”

Morris also pointed to the possibilities of pairing emerging young players with established stars like Bosa, specifically mentioning edge rusher Romello Height.

“You’re excited about the what if when he gets a chance to play with Bosa and some of those other guys,” Morris said.

With Dre Greenlaw nearing full participation and Nick Bosa steadily increasing his workload, the 49ers appear to be sticking to their long-term plan. Morris isn’t focused on how many training camp reps his stars accumulate.

He’s focused on having two of the NFL’s most impactful defenders ready when the games begin to count.

More 49ers content from Sactown Sports

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• 49ers’ Special Teams Coach reacts to Deebo Samuel reunion: ‘He’s a Difference Maker’
• Nick Bosa ranked among top-five edge rushers on Madden 27
• 49ers HC Kyle Shanahan corrects record, says crash was his fault
• 49ers DC Raheem Morris raves about Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw & Nick Bosa

Upcoming San Francisco 49ers Schedule

Preseason

• Thursday, August 13th – vs. Tennessee Titans – 6:00 pm PT
• Thursday, August 20th – @ Los Angeles Chargers – 7:00 pm PT
• Thursday, August 27th – @ Las Vegas Raiders – 5:00 pm PT

Regular Season

• Thursday, September 10th – vs. Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia (Season Opener) – 5:35 pm PT
• Sunday, September 20th – vs. Miami Dolphins – 1:25 pm PT
• Sunday, September 27th – vs. Arizona Cardinals – 1:05 pm PT
• Sunday, October 4th – vs. Denver Broncos – 1:25 pm PT

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