The news is grim for the 49ers and NaVorro Bowman.
As expected, the team announced on Monday Bowman’s Achilles injury will sideline him for the rest of the season. The test results were revealed in an MRI on Monday.
The 28-year-old missed the entire 2014 campaign after tearing his ACL/MCL. There’s no word yet on whether this injury will be career threatening, but at the very least Achilles injuries take up to 10-12 months of recovery time.
Before Bowman left the game in the third quarter, Ezekiel Elliott had 11 carries for 53 yards. After Bowman injury, Elliott had 12 carries for 85 yards and a touchdown. The linebacker fell to the turf on a non-contact injury and was carted off the field.
We wrote this defense is about to hit new lows without their leader in the middle of the defense. Michael Wilhoite and Gerald Hodges — both backups to start the season — will be expected to captain a run defense that already ranks 32nd in the NFL.