SANTA CLARA — Defensive end Nick Bosa fully expects to play in the Sept. 12 opener at Detroit, and, for now, he remains practicing on the side at training camp in his recovery from last season’s knee injury.
One obstacle that could interfere with his comeback: COVID.
Bosa is among the few 49ers not fully vaccinated, as evident by the protective mask he wore Thursday to his first press conference since last season.
“I’m just evaluating everything right now,” Bosa said. “I haven’t made a decision quite yet. But I’m following the protocols and will see where it goes.”
#49ers Nick Bosa says he hasn’t still decided on whether to get #Covid vaccine pic.twitter.com/Ib6Ol59gyW
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) July 29, 2021
The 49ers opened camp Tuesday with general manager John Lynch noting over 90 percent of the players were vaccinated. Four offensive players wore masks warming up for Wednesday’s first practice, and cornerback Jason Verrett wore a mask in his Thursday media session while saying he’s working through things.
Bosa noted during one lengthy answer how “it’s tough with this mask on,” but that is among the regulations imposed by the NFL, including others that restrict unvaccinated players around the team facility and away from that, as well as daily testing for COVID.
Three players who opened camp on the COVID reserve are cornerback Emmanuel Moseley, safety Jaquiski Tartt, and wide receiver Jauan Jennings.
Bosa reported to camp looking on track in his ACL comeback, which are never a sure thing, even though Bosa noted he’s “definitely experienced, unfortunately” by having torn the ACL in his right knee his senior year of high school.
When this season’s schedule came out a couple months ago, Bosa had his target date for a return.
“I knew when it was an early injury (last September), I, for the most part, would be ready to go for Week 1 and everything now is trending toward that,” Bosa said. “I’m hoping to ramp it up toward that and give it all I’ve got Week 1.
“Right now, I’m feeling very close.”
He looks very close. Through two practices in camp, he’s shown no hindrance with his leg, and, rather, he springs up after drills as if to further test it or show off his progress.
Wearing a black support sleeve over his left knee, he participates in position drills with blocking sleds and pseudo pass rush, then does more of the same on a side field with fellow linemen Dee Ford (back) and Javon Kinlaw (knee).
Bosa has not only worked on rehabilitating his knee but also changing his diet, with the help of his personal chef back home this offseason in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
“I’ve been pounding a ton of green juice, and really healthy raw vegetables, salads and a ton of protein,” said Bosa, noting he’s maintained his weight at about 260 pounds, some five pounds less than his 2019 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year season.
Bosa is also in a much better place mentally, after going to a “dark place” once his left knee buckled 11 snaps into the 49ers’ road opener last season against the host New York Jets.
“Early on, there’s always a tough time. You come off 2019 and on top of the world, and start well in next season and it’s all taken away really quick,” Bosa said. “Mentally it was really rough. When your body feels terrible, your mind goes to that place. I had my mom and brother taking care of me down in LA and got to hang with Joey all season
“As my body started to feel better, my mind followed. All I know how to do is work hard. Once you get past the initial pain of it, there’s really no other option but to come back better. My mind did go to some dark places, especially when football is a dark place of your life.”
Bosa noted that his girlfriend helped get him into a happier place, and that “she occupies my mind a lot and that helped me through.”
