49ers Reportedly Interested in Four-Time Pro Bowl DE After Nick Bosa Injury

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Rowan Fisher-Shotton | Last updated Oct 11, 2025 11:37 AM ET

The San Francisco 49ers lost Nick Bosa to a torn ACL on Sept. 22, a seismic personnel blow that has transformed the team's outlook this season.

Bosa is a five-time Pro Bowler, was the 2019 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year and already has 64.5 career sacks across seven seasons (85 games), while still being just 27 years old.

Bosa’s absence strips a championship-caliber unit of its primary edge threat and the team has responded by canvassing the NFL market for established pass rushers before the Nov. 4 trade deadline.

At the center of the immediate speculation is Trey Hendrickson, the Cincinnati Bengals All-Pro who led the league in sacks last year (17.5) and agreed to a lucrative restructured one-year deal for 2025.

Hendrickson’s contract makes him a viable trade target as he offers an immediate impact and arrives at the deadline as a pending free agent, positioning the Bengals to demand significant return if they elect to move him.

Adding fuel to the fire, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported on Saturday that the 49ers are expected to call Cincinnati as they sift through pass-rush options to blunt the loss of Bosa.

Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher Trey HendricksonAlbert Cesare / The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

After a prolonged negotiation this offseason, Hendrickson signed a one-year arrangement worth roughly $30 million for 2025, a compromise that ended a public hold-in but leaves him eligible for unfettered free agency in March 2026.

Russini reported back in August that the Bengals want "a young defensive player and a 2026 first-round pick" in return for Hendrickson, according to league sources.

The 49ers have shown a willingness to make midseason acquisitions in the past, notably trading for All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey in October 2022, but any deal would vastly affect their salary cap picture and future roster construction.

With San Francisco sitting at 4-1 in a competitive NFC West division, it's difficult to say whether they believe in what they have right now or if they feel Hendrickson could be that one piece needed to push them over the top.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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