After missing the entire 2014 season with a severe knee injury, the 49ers All-Pro linebacker is slated to return to the field this fall. See him in action at previous camps.
- Tuesday's Niners Daily look at the recently released inside linebacker ratings for the Madden NFL 16 video game by EA Sports.*
NaVorro Bowman still gets plenty of respect.
Despite missing the entire 2014 season with an ACL tear in his left knee, the San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker was given the second-best rating for all inside 'backers in the upcoming edition of Madden.
Bowman is also the highest-rated member of the 49ers with a score of 93 overall. In addition, EA awarded Bowman scores of 97 tackle, 96 pursuit, 92 block shedding, 88 play recognition and 82 ZCV/73 MCV (whatever those mean).
Madden ratings have become somewhat of a thing over the years, and maybe even more so these days as EA Sports builds momentum before the game's Aug. 25 launch.
The only inside linebacker ahead of Bowman is Luke Kuechly of the Carolina Panthers, who was given a grade of 96 overall.
The top-5 list of inside 'backers is as follows:
- Kuechly - 96 overall
- Bowman - 93 overall
- Bobby Wagner (Seattle Seahawks) - 92 overall
- Clay Matthews (Green Bay Packers) - 90 overall
- Daryl Smith (Baltimore Ravens) - 90 overall And for those who are curious to know how EA Sports comes up with these numbers, Neil Paine of FiveThirtyEight.com wrote an excellent feature back in February uncovering this very unique topic.
Enjoy some of the top images of the San Francisco 49ers linebacker returning to the field for the team's offseason program.
