The San Francisco 49ers have lost several key players to injuries early in their 2025 campaign, including defensive end Nick Bosa, who tore his ACL in the team’s Week 3 battle with the Arizona Cardinals and will miss the remainder of the season.

Bosa was off to a strong start to the year, recording 17 tackles (four for a loss), three quarterback hits, two sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in his three games, including the one quarter he played in Week 3.

Advertisement

While the 49ers have promoted Robert Beal Jr. from the practice squad to help fill in, they should be looking for a better solution. Interestingly, Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox identified Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson as a top fit for San Francisco.

“The San Francisco 49ers have lost Nick Bosa for the season to a torn ACL,” Knox wrote. “The Detroit Lions recently placed Marcus Davenport on injured reserve with a chest injury. These are Super Bowl hopefuls who could soon become desperate for pass-rushing help.

“That desperation might finally allow the Bengals to get something close to their asking price for the reigning NFL sacks leader.”

Hendrickson, 30, was a third-round pick (No. 103 overall) of the New Orleans Saints following a C-USA Defensive Player of the Year campaign at Florida Atlantic. After four years in New Orleans, he’s spent the last four-plus years with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Advertisement

In his NFL career, he’s earned Pro Bowl honors four times and All-Pro honors once while recording 227 tackles (73 for a loss), 161 quarterback hits, 79 sacks, 16 passes defensed and 14 forced fumbles. Since 2020, only Myles Garrett (76.0) and T.J. Watt (75.5) have more sacks than Hendrickson (72.5).

After holding out in training camp, Hendrickson agreed to a revised contract with the Bengals back in August that will void at the end of the year, making him a free agent.

The 49ers may be able to get Hendrickson for a decent deal and give him an extension to tie him to the team for the foreseeable future. That way he could lead the group that includes Bryce Huff and first-round pick Mykel Williams this year, and line up opposite Bosa when he’s healthy.

More 49ers: 49ers 1st Week 4 practice report has 12 players out, limited by injury

This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers identified as a top landing spot for 4-time Pro Bowler in trade