49ers LB NaVorro Bowman Not Close To Returning From Knee Injury

49ers DC Vic Fangio recently mentioned during a interview with KNBR radio that ILB NaVorro Bowman (knee) isn’t close to returning from the major knee injury he suffered several months ago.

“Oh, I think at some point he will play,” Fangio said on the Murph & Mac show, via the Sacramento Bee. “But right now it’s still later than sooner. His procedure was done in February. It’s not like he got hurt in the middle of the season last year.”

Bowman suffered a major knee injury in the NFC Championship game that saw him tear his left ACL and MCL.

“He’s going to need a couple of weeks of practice, too, to get his legs under him and to and feel comfortable playing on his legs,” Fangio said.

The 49ers have actually held up pretty well without Bowman in the lineup as Michael Wilhoite has stepped in and produced 20 tackles over the course of five games.

Bowman, 25, signed a seven-year, $46.37 million contract that included $25.5 million guaranteed back in 2012. However, he recently converted $3.27 million of his $4 million base salary into a signing bonus.

When healthy, Bowman has proven to be one of the best linebackers in the league. In 2013, he totaled 145 tackles, five sacks, two interceptions, four forced fumbles and two recoveries for the 49ers. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 1 overall inside linebacker last season.