5 refreshing takeaways from 49ers' season-opening win over Steelers
By Peter Panacy
49ers takeaway No. 3: Drake Jackson might have taken that 2nd-year leap
San Francisco was hoping for big things from rookie defensive end Drake Jackson a year ago, its top pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
After a promising start in which he recorded three sacks early, Jackson slowed up because of poor conditioning and ended up being a regular inactive down the stretch and into the playoffs.
Fully recommitted to getting stronger during the offseason, Jackson already appeared to be a wholly different player during training camp, and it appears as if that work paid off handsomely against the Steelers.
While All-Pro edge Nick Bosa is expected to lead the 49ers in sacks, Jackson currently holds that mark by grabbing three takedowns of Kenny Pickett on Sunday:
That's a hat-trick! @The99Athlete pic.twitter.com/QxEJ6HVqAQ
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) September 10, 2023
Don't expect Jackson to maintain that pace, of course. But it's a pretty solid sign that he and Bosa can be the lethal bookend pair of edge rushers the Niners have so long coveted.