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San Francisco 49ers: Nick Bosa ’50-50′ to start Week 1

By Nicholas McGee

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 25: Nick Bosa of Ohio State reacts after being chosen #2 overall by the San Francisco 49ers during the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft on April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 25: Nick Bosa of Ohio State reacts after being chosen #2 overall by the San Francisco 49ers during the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft on April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Nick Bosa may have to wait beyond Week 1 to make his NFL debut for the San Francisco 49ers as he recovers from an ankle sprain.

Nick Bosa has been kept out of the preseason by an ankle sprain, and it remains up in the air as to whether the San Francisco 49ers pass rusher will be healthy for the start of the regular season.

Bosa, the second overall pick in this year’s draft, has been sidelined since August because of a severe sprain. The 49ers have been hopeful of him returning in time for Week 1, but general manager John Lynch told the Tolbert, Krueger & Brooks podcast:

"“I think, truly, (him playing in) Week 1, that’s, I don’t know, 50-50. But it’s going to be touch and go as to whether he makes it.”"

The 49ers have made a long-term investment in Bosa, so would be right not to rush him back for the opening game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. There is little point risking serious injury for the sake of one game.

But the frustration of not having him will be felt keenly inside and outside of team headquarters. The 2019 season is the one in which the pass rush was supposed to reach the next level following the additions of Bosa and Dee Ford. It still may well be, but potentially being without Bosa for Week 1 and having Ford hampered by knee tendinitis is not the start they will have envisioned.

They will likely be especially keen for Bosa to be on the field in Tampa after seeing their defensive line fail numerous times to get home on pressures of Jameis Winston in the same matchup last year.

There is still plenty of time for Bosa to recover fully, with Lynch adding that he is “coming along really well” in his rehabilitation from the injury.

However, if the 49ers err on the side on the caution, then the onus will be on Ford, DeForest Buckner and a seemingly reinvigorated Solomon Thomas to disrupt Winston.

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Many will back them to do so against a poor Bucs O-Line, and the 49ers have a considerable amount of D-Line depth with which to rush the passer. Bosa, though, was the star of training camp and lived up to his reputation as an elite pass rusher. The 49ers will rue the day a 300-pound lineman fell on him even more if his absence costs them the fast start they desperately need.