San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
49ers at Lions
Kickoff: 10 a.m. TV/Radio: 2t / 810, 107.7
Spotlight on: DE Nick Bosa: Yes, it appears all systems are go for Bosa, the supremely conditioned Pro Bowl pass rusher who flashed his trademark explosiveness in training camp. But this will be the first time the 2019 Defensive Rookie of the Year will go against an opponent in 357 days. Bosa didn’t play in the preseason and didn’t return to team drills until Aug. 25 as he came back from a torn ACL that included cartilage damage. No other 49ers defensive player has the same impact as Bosa. All preseason signs have been encouraging, but the 49ers can exhale after Sunday’s game if Bosa resembles the same player he was in 2019.
Injury notes: 49ers — CB Emmanuel Moseley (knee) and DT Javon Kinlaw (knee) are doubtful; DT Kevin Givens (hip) is questionable. Lions — LT Taylor Decker (finger) is out.
THREE THINGS TO WATCH
The Lions ranked last in the NFL in yards allowed (419.8 per game), points allowed (32.4), yards per play (6.3), passing touchdowns allowed (38) and opponent passer rating (112.4) in 2020. QB Jimmy Garoppolo has completed 52 of 83 passes for 686 yards with four touchdowns and four interceptions in three seasonopening starts with the 49ers. TE T.J. Hockenson, a former Iowa teammate of George Kittle’s who trains with the 49ers tight end in Nashville, is the Lions’ top passcatching threat. Last year he had 67 receptions for 723 yards in his second season and was voted to the Pro Bowl.