49ers' 90 Players Oppose SB795 Workers' Comp Limits for Pro Athletes

Q: With two star pass rushers injured, are the 49ers gambling their season by waiting to sign veteran help?

Yes — at least for now, the 49ers are taking a real risk by waiting. The concern is straightforward: San Francisco had a league-low 20 sacks in 2025, and both projected edge starters, Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams, are rehabbing torn ACLs. Bosa is reportedly progressing well and targeting training camp or early in the season, but this is another major knee recovery for him. Williams’ ability to contribute immediately is also uncertain. That leaves a thin edge group behind them. The internal options are not yet proven enough to remove the urgency. Rookie Romello Height has upside, but at 239 pounds he is widely viewed as a developmental player who may need time to handle NFL blockers. Alfred Collins could help the front overall, especially against the run, but the key question around him is whether he can become a true finisher as a pass rusher rather than just a space-eater who helps others make plays. The 49ers do have flexibility. They kept significant cap space and still have access to veteran free agents such as Joey Bosa, Jadeveon Clowney, Cam Jordan or Von Miller. They could also revisit the trade market later, though a Maxx Crosby deal would be expensive and medically complicated after a prior trade fell through over knee concerns. So this is not necessarily a season-defining mistake yet. But if San Francisco reaches camp still relying mainly on two ACL recoveries and developmental depth, it will look less like patience and more like a gamble.

3 articles · Updated · Niners Nation · Jun 16

All 90 players on the 49ers' offseason roster signed a joint statement with the NFL Players Association opposing California bill SB795.
SB795 would tighten eligibility for workers' compensation claims tied to occupational disease and cumulative injury, and those changes would apply only to professional athletes.
The players' objection centers on that selectivity, arguing the bill narrows liability for pro teams in California while singling out one class of workers.
The dispute puts the roster at odds with team ownership over a state labor measure that could reshape how injured athletes pursue long-term claims.