A key to rookie defensive end Nick Bosa’s NFL debut in Tampa Bay was what happened after the game. Bosa injured his ankle in early August, and was out until the week of practice leading up to the season opener. How his ankle responded to playing in Sunday’s game was as important as how Bosa performed.
Early returns Wednesday in Youngstown, Ohio, where the team is practicing prior to their Week 2 game in Cincinnati, weren’t very positive. Bosa missed Wednesday’s practice because of soreness in his ankle.
“No, he would’ve practiced if he wasn’t still hurt from the game. He didn’t practice because of the ankle,” head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters after the session. “It was just still hurting from the game, sore after the game and still was today.”
Bosa wasn’t officially diagnosed with a high ankle sprain, although his injury contained some elements of that specific ailment. Shanahan said that it’s the type of injury that could be around awhile.
“Yeah, anytime you have something like that, usually those injuries, high ankle sprains can linger for a long time,” he said. “When you get in the game, usually you do stuff again and hopefully he can recover by Sunday.”
It wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see Bosa miss more practice during the week. He was productive in his 38 snaps against the Bucs, which accounted for 55 percent of the team’s plays on defense. It’s not imperative that he gets on the field for practice if it means he’s healthier my game day.
Here is the rest of the 49ers’ Wednesday practice report:
Did not participate
DE Nick Bosa (ankle)
WR Trent Taylor (foot)
WR Jalen Hurd (back)
OT Joe Staley (vet day)
RB Tevin Coleman (ankle)
Limited participation
LB Mark Nzeocha (illness)
DB Jimmie Ward (finger)
