Injuries have been the only thing capable of stopping 49ers All-Pro middle linebacker NaVorro Bowman throughout his seven year career. An infamous tearing of his ACL and MCL during the NFC Championship Game in 2013 knocked him out for the entire 2014 campaign. Bowman suffered another devastating injury last year, tearing his Achilles tendon on October 2 against Dallas, after looking like his old self during the first month of the season.
Both injuries on their own have ruined the careers of many, and new 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan wasn’t sure what Bowman would look like heading into the 2017. From what he’s seen so far during voluntary mini-camp, however, Bowman has exceeded expectations, with Shanahan telling Murph and Mac on Thursday morning that Bowman doesn’t look at all like a player coming off a season ending injury.
“I couldn’t be more excited with Bo than I am right now,” Shanahan said. “I didn’t know what to expect. I’ve gone against him over the years and have the utmost respect for him as a player. Never knew him as a person though. He’s been winning our drills out there; shuttles — (head strength and conditioning coach) Ray (Wright) takes them through a lot of competitions and stuff — and just to come out there and watch him he does not look like a guy coming off Achilles.”
If healthy, Bowman is expected to be the 49ers lone starting middle linebacker in defensive coordinator Robert Salah’s new 4-3 system.
“I thought it would take him some time. I didn’t think he’d be looking really to himself until training camp but, man when I go out there right now and watch him work he looks a lot better than I was expecting this early. So he’s put the time in and he’s put the work in, he didn’t just start here when we got all the players here, he started way before that. He’s been in here working since really before I was hired and it’s showing. I’m happy for him because he’s put that time in and he’s getting the payback on the field and just watching him — the way he leads the group on the field, I see him as a leader by example — and he’s been handling the group the right way from a vocal standpoint.”
Listen to the full interview below.