Optimistic Nick Bosa motivated to make NFL debut in 49ers’ opener
SANTA CLARA — Just how motivated is Nick Bosa to overcome his first-ever, high-ankle sprain and make his NFL debut for the 49ers in Sunday’s season opener at Tampa Bay?
“I don’t think I’ve ever been as motivated in my life to get back,” Bosa answered Monday after an encouraging return to practice. “I’ve had my sights set on playing my first NFL season. Every waking hour was spent getting my ankle right.”
That meant tapping into every aspect of the 49ers’ rehabilitation methods, from a pool to an exercise bike to message treatments to …
“I mean, I’ve got a big ice bucket with my name on it in there right now,” Bosa said. “So just anything to get it feeling better.”
On Aug. 7, after a dominant first week to his initial training camp, Bosa’s right leg got crumpled by an offensive lineman in a friendly-fire pileup at practice. “It was a quick fall — boom,” said Bosa, who initially was unsure if his right knee or ankle got hurt and is now thankful it was the latter.
Only a week and a half after the injury, Bosa was cleared to start running, and now it’s about “keeping the swelling out and keeping the soreness down, but it’s feeling really good.”
As for if he’ll indeed be cleared for Sunday’s opener, Bosa, the No. 2 overall draft pick, said he is taking it “day by day,” but then lockermate D.J. Jones interrupted the media session and chimed in, “You’re playing.”
A top priority for the 49ers’ offseason was to upgrade their pass rush, and they did so by not only drafting Bosa but acquiring ex-Chiefs sack artist Dee Ford, who returned to practice last week after spending three weeks treating his knee tendinitis.
Awaiting them is a Tampa Bay offensive line that allowed five sacks before halftime of their third exhibition. Ford, the veteran, alluded to that showing last week when asked for a scouting report on the Bucs. Bosa, the rookie, was more diplomatic Monday while acknowledging a possible breakout debut.
“We like when they hold the ball. You don’t get that too much so you definitely have to take advantage of that,” Bosa said. “They have a really good O-line, just super experienced and they’ve been around, so it’s going to be a challenge.”
Bosa, a Fort Lauderdale native, did not sound too concerned about Hurricane Dorian’s impeding impact on his hometown, and he noted that his mother, Cheryl, had yet to evacuate.