After missing the entire 2014 NFL season, the San Francisco 49ers are planning to put NaVorro Bowman back on the field at the start of preseason as he tries to put his career back together again.
Bowman tore his ACL and MCL in the NFC Championship game between the 49ers and Seahawks after the 2013 season. He was arguably the best inside linebacker in the NFL under Jim Harbaugh, making the Pro Bowl twice and being named to three First-team All-Pro selections.
The 49ers struggled without him last season, although he wasn’t the only one missing from the successful recipe that led to three consecutive conference championship games (2011-2013).
Now, with almost everyone that had something to do with that successful three-year period gone, Bowman is back to try and get back to where he was prior to the injury. At this point, just playing and staying healthy is good enough. Once that’s established, he can move on to being as dominant as he was before, if his body allows him to.
Bowman is signed through the 2018 season, making $4.7 million in base salary and coming with a $7.6 million cap hit.