SANTA CLARA, Calif. — When the 2014 NFL schedule was released in April, the San Francisco 49ers thought they might have caught a break.

Initial expectations were for star inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman, who tore the ACL and MCL of his left knee in the NFC Championship Game in January, to miss half the season following knee surgery in early February.

If that projection came to fruition, Bowman would miss some key matchups — including games against the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Denver Broncos and New Orleans Saints — in the first half of the season.

However, he would be back for what was anticipated to be the two biggest games of the year, matchups with the Seattle Seahawks in Weeks 13 and 15.

Turns out the projection was a bit optimistic, and that is just about Bowman. Calling it a big game has not really turned out to be the reality. Not like the last two years when it helped determine which team went to the Super Bowl — first the 49ers, then the Seahawks. The teams enter this weekend’s game with Seattle at 10-7, in second place in the NFC West behind the Arizona Cardinals. San Francisco is 7-6, one game out of last place in the division.

Still, the 49ers are mentioning this game as a must-win, as in they must win to keep their infinitesimal playoff hopes alive.

Meantime, back to Bowman.

The 49ers formally added Bowman to the 53-man active roster this week, but that is as close as he is going to get to playing Sunday in the rematch at Seattle.

Coach Jim Harbaugh announced Wednesday that while he expects Bowman to play this season, it won’t be this week. In fact, Bowman won’t even practice with the team this week.

“He’s still going through the lifting and agility (workouts),” Harbaugh said. “The medical staff put a plan in place that would make it possible for him to play this year. This week, he wouldn’t play. (Returning to practice is) possible for the following week. And if things go well, play in one of those last two ballgames.”

The 49ers close the season with home games against the San Diego Chargers and Arizona.

With sidekick Patrick Willis also out due to a toe injury, the 49ers once again will line up backups Michael Wilhoite and Chris Borland at the inside linebacker spots this week against Seattle.

The Seahawks took advantage of the absence of the two all-pro 49ers in their 19-3 win on Thanksgiving night. Seattle backup running back Robert Turbin beat linebacker coverage for the only touchdown of the game on a pass from quarterback Russell Wilson, and tight end Luke Willson got open enough in the middle of the San Francisco defense to lead all Seahawks with four catches.

Expanding on that same script, the Raiders got major contributions from tight end Mychal Rivera (seven catches, career-high 109 yards, one touchdown), fullback Marcel Reece (seven catches, 64 yards, one TD) and even tackle-eligible Donald Penn (short TD catch) against the 49ers’ short-handed linebacker corps last week in Oakland’s 24-13 upset of San Francisco.

Bowman wishes he could be there to lend a hand Sunday in Seattle, but he understands why his hands have been tied.

“Of course I want to be there,” he told reporters Wednesday. “I’m listening to the doctors. They’re being cautious about what to do.”

All things considered, the prudent move may be to keep Bowman out of harm’s way until, say, next preseason when everybody gets a fresh start for the 49ers.

Or at least those who are still around.

For what it is worth, this game is the 32nd regular-season meeting between the teams, including the years when the Seahawks were in the AFC West.

The Seahawks lead the series 16-15 following their Thanksgiving victory. It was Seattle’s fourth win in the past five meetings, a stretch that includes a 23-17 triumph in the NFC Championship Game in January that represents the only time the rivals have met in the postseason.

Including the title game, the 49ers have lost three in a row in Seattle, and they haven’t scored more than 17 points in any of their last six visits, averaging just 12.2 points over that stretch.

NOTES: Among those not practicing Wednesday were WR Stevie Johnson (knee), C Marcus Martin (knee) and Bowman (knee). … TE Vance McDonald (back) was placed on injured reserve Tuesday to make room on the 53-man active roster for Bowman. By rule, McDonald is out for the season. … OT Anthony Davis (concussion) was cleared to return to practice Wednesday. … OT Chris Martin was added to the practice squad.