Nick Bosa has 14 sacks this season. He has his eyes set on owning the San Francisco 49ers single-season sack record of 19.5, set by Aldon Smith in 2012. It will take reaching opposing quarterbacks six more times to do so. That's a lot to ask of a player with just four games remaining. However, Bosa had six sacks in the past four games, so matching that feat will get him to his goal.
It's not just the sacks that make Bosa great, though. That's why his head coach feels the third-year pass rusher should at least be in the conversation for some highly-coveted NFL awards.
"I think he's underrated," Kyle Shanahan said during his weekly sit-down with NBC Sports Bay Area. "When I hear people just talk about him as Comeback Player of the Year, I don't get why he's not mentioned for NFL MVP."
Shanahan probably meant NFL Defensive Player of the Year there. Either way, it just shows how much Bosa means to the 49ers defense. Myles Garrett and T.J. Watt are the betting favorites, per DraftKings. Oddsmakers rank Bosa seventh for the annual honor.
As Bosa closes in on the team's sack record, remember that he is coming off an ACL injury. The defender may be even better than he was before the knee injury that ended his 2020 campaign in Week 2.
"It's probably one of the most impressive things I've seen from a player," defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans said this week, per Kirk Larrabee. "It's a credit for him for the way he works, the way he practices. He practices hard. Football is important to him, and it shows. There's no reason why Nick shouldn't have some attention for Defensive Player of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year."
Quarterbacks Dak Prescott and Joe Burrow are the favorites for Comeback Player of the Year. Unfortunately, Bosa may not have a shot at that award, which frustrates at least one teammate.
"I don't know how he's not Comeback Player of the Year," Kittle said this week. "I don't know how many sacks he has, but I know it's a lot. He just does it every single week. If you don't put two people on him minimum, he's going to sack the quarterback. He's so fast, he's so fluid, so dang strong."
Bosa feels like he's just ramping up for a strong finish to the season. However, reaching 20 sacks might be a way to get everyone's attention and prove that he should be in some of these award conversations.
"Yeah, I'd like that [record]," Bosa told reporters on Thursday. "Definitely would love to have my name on there for this organization. But also, I'm just trying to take it one day at a time."
With names like Garrett, Watt, and even Aaron Donald in the conversation for the defensive MVP, it's easy to overlook Bosa and his impact on the 49ers.
"Aaron Donald dominates pretty good, but there's only a couple of guys that I can mention in that category," Shanahan continued. "And Bosa, whether it's practice, whether it's games, I don't think he gets enough credit for what he does on everything besides those 14 plays.
"Every play in the run game, the pass game, he is always getting to the quarterback, getting to the ball carrier. He is one of the smartest players I've been around, and so technically sound, and plays every play very well."
Nick Bosa, Trey Lance among those who immediately welcomed Drake Jackson to the 49ers
By David Bonilla
May 4
It was amazing for new San Francisco 49ers defensive end Drake Jackson to hear his name called on Friday night during the second day of the 2022 NFL Draft. His new teammate, Arik Armstead, announced the pick.
Even more amazing for the 21-year-old defender was having several of his new 49ers teammates, including Armstead and Nick Bosa, immediately reach out to him.
"It's crazy. I talked to both of them," Jackson said Wednesday morning on KNBR's Murph & Mac show. "Nick Bosa texted me. Arik Armstead FaceTimed me right after. ... Trey Lance had called me. Emmanuel Moseley hit me up. I was astounded. I'm like, 'Damn, this is crazy.' Everybody hitting me up off the team, but they're kind of like legends too. I'm fanboying, but I've got to be professional
49ers rookie Drake Jackson ready to 'get the answers to the test' from Nick Bosa
By David Bonilla
May 14
Drake Jackson knows he's going into a great situation. Two weeks ago, the 21-year-old rookie defensive end was the first selection by the San Francisco 49ers, added during the second round. Eventually, the 49ers expect him to fill the role once envisioned for Dee Ford—a strong pass rusher opposite phenom Nick Bosa.
Jackson could develop into that complementary piece for the 49ers defense. Luckily, he has a great role model in Bosa.
"Watching him, the whole D-line, watching them hunt, I cannot wait to go get out there with those guys and just turn up with them," Jackson told reporters on Friday.
After Jackson was drafted, Bosa was among several
49ers rookie OL Nick Zakelj could play center in the NFL
By Rohan Chakravarthi
May 13
The San Francisco 49ers' rookie minicamp kicked off Friday afternoon, with the 49ers revealing the rookie jersey numbers prior to media availability.
Sixth-round selection Nick Zakelj, who will wear No. 63, spoke with the media on Friday for the first time since draft night and shared a rather interesting fact about his football childhood.
Zakelj is a Cleveland native, drawing a connection to Alex Mack, whom the rookie watched while growing up. Mack began his career as a member of the Cleveland Browns, playing from 2009-2015 before stints with the Falcons and the 49ers.
"I think definitely watching guys like Alex, especially growing up in Cleveland, being drafted, I
Why NFL.com names 49ers-Dolphins among its top 10 games of 2022
By David Bonilla
May 5
The San Francisco 49ers face the defending Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams twice. They also face the Raiders for the first time since the latter left the Bay Area for Las Vegas. The two once-local rivals will play at Allegiant Stadium.
The 49ers also host briefly-retired Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Every time the Niners face Brady, fans are treated (said sarcastically) to stories about how the future Hall of Fame quarterback loved the Bay Area team growing up and dreamed of playing for the 49ers. He has won seven Super Bowls since. Or, more recently, how the Niners passed on signing Brady in 2020. The quarterback went on to win that seventh Super Bowl that season.
None of those matchups are
