Nick Bosa prepared for full workload in 49ers opener after lifting weight from his shoulders
Nick Bosa will line up for the 49ers on Sunday safe in the knowledge his long-term future in the NFL is resolved after penning a record-breaking contract extension this week. "I’m definitely thinking that it’s going to be a weight off my shoulders," said Bosa, who spoke for the first time since signing a five-year, […]
Nick Bosa will line up for the 49ers on Sunday safe in the knowledge his long-term future in the NFL is resolved after penning a record-breaking contract extension this week.
"I’m definitely thinking that it’s going to be a weight off my shoulders," said Bosa, who spoke for the first time since signing a five-year, $170 million extension on Friday.
That's bad news for the 49ers' Week 1 opponents, the Steelers, who will now have to face the reigning Defensive Player of the Year knowing he is free from any kind of off-field burden.
Bosa will be activated to the 53-man roster in the next 24 hours, with fellow edge rusher Austin Bryant released in a corresponding move.
Despite the 49ers' final practice ahead of their trip to Pittsburgh being his only team session ahead of the new campaign, Bosa does not envisage having any difficulty playing his usual full complement of snaps if asked to do so by head coach Kyle Shanahan.
"I’d be up for a normal workload, for sure," Bosa added. "But I haven’t talked to him [Shanahan], yet."
For his part, Shanahan said Bosa's number of snaps will be based on the kind of stamina the defensive end displays.
Shanahan said:
"The hitting is less of the concern hitting it’s just more about stamina of the game and things like that. I go back to 2021, Bosa tore his ACL in ‘20, didn’t get any training camp in ‘21. We activated him for practice I think that last week. So, he got a week of practice. And versus Detroit, he played I think like 60 plays, was able to stay healthy and do stuff like that. We had him in practice a little bit more. We got that last week and stuff, but at least we have some stuff to go off with him."
The experience of Bosa playing in 2021 with nothing more than a week of practice should give the 49ers reassurance he can immediately resume the form that saw him record 18.5 sacks last season.
Both sides should be thankful they can now focus on Bosa helping the 49ers beat the Steelers, given the apparently big gap that existed between his agent Brian Ayraulta and the Niners that had the former second overall pick thinking he could miss Week 1 before a deal was struck on Wednesday.
"You don’t know what people are thinking,” Bosa explained. "You don’t know really what’s going to happen. You’re just getting updates once in a while.
"The closer it got, the more it seemed like it [missing the opener] was a possibility. But I’m very appreciative of this organization, obviously, for believing in me and the York family for believing in me. It’s definitely an honor to be with this organization for the majority of my career."
Final 49ers injury report for Week 1 clash with Steelers
Two starters are doubts for the opener.
Featured Image Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
