© Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Two days remain before the 49ers face the Cincinnati Bengals. A win would mark the first time since 1989 that the 49ers have won a pair of road games to open the season. It would also set up a three-week stretch with two home games and an opportunity to get back a triplet of much-needed skill position players.

But for right now, the 49ers are focused on getting Nick Bosa back for Sunday.

Bosa’s practice return indicates he’s likely to play versus Bengals

On Thursday, both defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and head coach Kyle Shanahan (on KNBR) spoke about their expectations for Bosa (full story here). Saleh indicated that Bosa would need to practice if he’s to play Sunday and Shanahan said, “I still feel pretty optimistic” about Bosa’s chances to play Sunday, adding that, “…if he does [practice], then we should feel pretty optimistic about Sunday.”

While the 49ers were non-contact in practice on Friday, Bosa’s return indicates he’s very likely to play, barring an unexpected setback. 49ers general manager John Lynch joined KNBR on Friday and said the team is both encouraged with Bosa’s progress and will do everything to protect him.

“We are encouraged with the way he’s recovered this week,” Lynch said. “We will not do anything to jeopardize Nick’s health.”

To listen to Lynch’s full interview, in which he talks about the questionable nature of Kwon Alexander’s ejection, click below.

Hurd, Taylor and Coleman all targeting post-bye returns

Perhaps the most noteworthy thing said by Shanahan on Friday was addressing the tentative timelines of receivers Trent Taylor (Jones fracture – toe), Jalen Hurd (back – was listed initially as tightness, no update since the end of training camp) and running back Tevin Coleman (sprained ankle).

Shanahan said that all three are expected to get back after the team’s bye week. While he didn’t say it explicitly, the implication was a return expectation for Week 5 against the Cleveland Browns.

“That’s the plan,” Shanahan said. “I hope so. I hope there’s a chance next week, but that’s really the goal… I kind of see all three of them in the same boat.”

Other notes: What’s up with Jeff Wilson Jr?

• Shanahan said he’s “not sure” if Jeff Wilson Jr. will be promoted from practice squad to the 53-man roster. Keeping just Matt Breida and Raheem Mostert would be a pretty surprising move for the 49ers given what Shanahan said Sunday (there’s always the possibility of another running back being signed).

Shanahan on Sunday: "Jeff [Wilson]’s a great player. We’ll see what’s up with Tevin and how long he will be out and then we’ll see what else is out there, but we like to have three guys up on game day, but if Tevin can’t go, we’ll have two, and most likely bring Jeff up." #49ers https://t.co/1iZ35F7wNl

— Jake Hutchinson (@hutchdiesel) September 9, 2019

• Jason Verrett is healthy and Shanahan said he hopes that he’d be able to help on special teams (if he’s active, which is far from a certainty, Shanahan indicated he’d basically be needed on special teams).
• Jimmie Ward is questionable after recovering from surgery on his fractured finger. His status is unclear as of yet, as he’s got a somewhat large cast for his finger and has yet to be involved in contact drills. He seems more doubtful than questionable at this point.