49ers roster: 5 players who must get off to hot start in 2021
By Peter Panacy
No. 2: 49ers EDGE Nick Bosa
It wouldn’t be a shock at all to see the Niners place third-year EDGE Nick Bosa on a bit of a pitch count this season. Especially early on after Bosa’s torn ACL suffered almost a year ago at this time and relatively slow re-acclimation time during training camp.
Bosa, along with fellow EDGE Dee Ford, didn’t play at all during the preseason, as San Francisco gave both the opportunity to freshen up for when the snaps matter most. Despite this, the 49ers defensive line still appeared to be the team’s strongest overall unit from top to bottom.
Regardless, Bosa remains this group’s best player. And in light of last year’s injury, he’ll need to regain the form of being one of the Niners’ best defensive players, too.
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Bosa should have plenty of opportunities against suspect Lions and Eagles offensive lines, and even the Packers could be something of a liability with starting left tackle David Bakhtiari shelved on the physically unable-to-perform list.
Even if the Niners limit Bosa’s snap count early this season, look for him to make his impact felt anytime he’s on the field.
For Bosa to truly put a statement together that he’s back and fully recovered, getting off to a red-hot start would be the best way to do it.