Defensive end Nick Bosa, the No. 2 overall pick in last month’s draft, couldn’t make it through the 49ers’ second day of OTAs fully healthy. He exited practice early with what appeared to be a hamstring tweak after participating in a drill, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic.
Injuries were a concern for Bosa. He dealt with a groin and core muscle injury early last season with Ohio State, and surgery to repair that core injury limited him to only three games. He also tore an ACL in high school.
It wouldn’t be a surprise if the 49ers were extremely careful with Bosa moving forward. They expect him to be a vital piece of their defense right away, and teams don’t typically push injuries this early in the offseason program.
Chris Biderman of the Sacramento Bee tweeted that Bosa didn’t participate in 11-on-11 drills or conditioning following his exit.
It’s also worth noting Bosa hasn’t played in a football game since early in the 2018 college football season. He had to rehab after his core surgery and then prepare for the NFL draft. His conditioning may not be where it needs to be this early in the year.
San Francisco’s new athletic training staff will get some early work with Bosa. Their ability to ensure he’s back on the field and healthy for the regular season will be essential to the success of the 49ers’ defense in 2019.
We’ll provide updates when they become available.
