49ers injury report vs. Buccaneers: Nick Bosa questionable with ‘legit’ hamstring issue

SANTA CLARA — Nick Bosa’s sack celebration consists of raising his hands to his chest and shrugging. That also reflects his up-in-the-air status for Sunday’s first career shot at Tom Brady.

A hamstring issue kept Bosa off the practice field all week, and he is officially questionable for Sunday’s visit by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Press Democrat’s Inside the 49ers blog

Spotted walking outside the weight room as Friday’s practice began without him, Bosa does not visibly appear hindered and some teammates suspect he’ll play through what surfaced Monday as “hamstring irritation.”

“It was bothering Monday, it got looked into, and it’s legit,” coach Kyle Shanahan said.

Two months ago, Bosa missed two days of practice before emerging for the Friday session in West Virginia, then he missed their ensuing loss at Atlanta on Oct. 16, after which he said the plan all week was for him to not play.

So, do the 49ers again rest him rather than risk aggravating an injury? Do they save him for a more important NFC West showdown Thursday night in Seattle, where he’d have to play on an artificial surface he dislikes?

“You definitely have to take that into account,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “It’s not just, ‘Will he be effective on a short week on Thursday?’ But, ‘Can he play in this and the next one with the doctors and himself saying it’s safe?’ We’re not there yet.”

Bosa’s is the 49ers’ biggest injury concern this week, aside from Jimmy Garoppolo starting his healing process from Sunday’s left-foot fracture that should sideline him into the playoffs; Garoppolo will not go on injured reserve to keep alive a long-shot chance at a comeback.

Garoppolo was ruled out, along with defensive tackle Hassan Ridgeway (pectoral) and safety Tarvarius Moore (knee).

Bosa’s three sacks in Sunday’s 33-17 win over Miami earned him NFC Player of the Week honors, after he won the NFC’s monthly award for November.

Of the 23 quarterbacks Bosa has sacked in his overall NFL career, his most frequent prey is Matthew Stafford (6½ sacks). Four times Bosa has sacked Aaron Rodgers, and three sacks have come against Kyle Allen, Kirk Cousins and, thanks to last Sunday, Tua Tagovailoa.