SANTA CLARA, CA – JANUARY 19: San Francisco 49ers’ Nick Bosa (97) chases Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) in the first quarter of their NFC Championship game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020 (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
SANTA CLARA — Nick Bosa won’t be lining up against All-Pro David Bakhtiari, nor likely his replacement, Elgton Jenkins.
Bosa is not assuming he’ll have an open gate to sack Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers on Sunday night, however.
“I don’t like to think that, necessarily,” Bosa said. “But I definitely want to play the best I can and beat these guys.”
The 49ers (2-0) host Rodgers and the Packers (1-1) at Levi’s Stadium, where fans will be in attendance for the first time since Bosa sacked Rodgers once and the 49ers pummeled the Packers 37-20 in the NFC Championship Game on Jan. 19, 2020.
“Definitely getting back in front of Levi’s and getting that atmosphere back, it’s really exciting,” Bosa added.
Bosa contained his excitement about the Packers’ suspect offensive line. Jenkins (ankle) has not practiced this week after starting in place of Bakhtiari (knee). Bosa, when he lines up at right defensive end, is expecting Billy Turner to switch from right to left tackle; Turner started every game at right guard in 2019.
Regardless of who’s blocking, the ultimate target is Rodgers, who Bosa sacked in each 49ers’ home win in the 2019 season; Bosa missed last November’s 34-17 loss because of his Week 2, season-ending knee injury.
“We just want to get off to a good start and have him feel the pressure overall,” Bosa said. “Because in 2019, we obviously made him uncomfortable. If he’s comfortable, it’s going to be a long day for anybody.
“We’ll try to close the pocket, make him get off his routine drop, and once you take him down, you want to make him pick himself up as many times as he can.”
When it came to speaking personally, Bosa declined a reporter’s request to explain why he waited until training camp to take the COVID vaccine. But Bosa did share his medical evaluation of his rebuilt left knee.
“I don’t think I’m worried about it anymore,” Bosa added. “But I do take care of both my knees. I don’t think that will ever end because you put a lot of stress on that when in football. But when playing, I’m not thinking about that at all.”
Same goes for when he’s practicing against Trent Williams, the 49ers’ Pro Bowl left tackle.
“He’s probably the smartest offensive lineman I’ve ever gone against, along with all his physical attributes and athleticism,” Bosa added. “He’s so balanced in what he does, he can change up his punch and do all different type of thins with his hands, and change up his set.
“You obviously see how tough it is to beat him. I don’t think anyone has even come close the first two weeks. Just adjusting every day against me and the split-second decisions he makes in the middle of a rush to rake me down or pull his hand away and grab. The reaction that he has, it shouldn’t happen that quick, but it does.”
