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."
Arik Armstead talks Steve Wilks, Nick Bosa, Javon Hargrave, and 49ers' QB situation
By David Bonilla
May 30
Arik Armstead is looking forward to the upcoming season. There is a lot to look forward to. His San Francisco 49ers have been to the NFC Championship Game three times over the past four seasons. They once again have a competitive roster and look to make another run at a Super Bowl championship.
Armstead joined Adam Schefter on the ESPN insider's podcast, discussing several 49ers-related topics.
New defensive coordinator Steve Wilks
Steve Wilks replaces DeMeco Ryans as defensive coordinator. Armstead had nothing but praise for his former coordinator, who left to be the Houston Texans' head coach, but looks forward to working with Wilks.
Wilks isn't expected to make any drastic changes in his first season helming the 49ers defense.
Christian McCaffrey calls Kyle Shanahan's 49ers scheme the "most sustainable" in the NFL
By David Bonilla
May 29
You've heard stories about San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan installing a play and breaking down exactly how he expects the defense to react. Then, when the players execute the play, everything occurs as the coach explained, as if he had a crystal ball to predict the outcome.
Shanahan is a confident play-caller, emphasizing execution by his players to ensure everything goes as planned. The 49ers acquired a big-time playmaker last season, trading for star running back Christian McCaffrey, who had already established himself as one of the most versatile players in the league.
Even McCaffrey marvels at the things his play-caller comes up
Should the 49ers entertain the idea of signing WR DeAndre Hopkins?
By Rohan Chakravarthi
May 27
The Arizona Cardinals made a significant move on Friday morning, releasing star receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who had a tumultuous 2022 season, marred by a six-game PED suspension and a knee strain that caused him to miss the final games of the year.
Earlier this week, Hopkins went on the "I Am Athlete" podcast, where he shared that his primary goals for his next team were stable management from the front office, a quarterback who loves the games and is loved by his teammates, and a great defense.
What's DeAndre Hopkins looking for from his next team?•Stable management •A QB who loves the game
This PFF stat should have QBs worried about facing the 49ers
By Rohan Chakravarthi
May 28
The San Francisco 49ers have compiled one of the NFL's best rosters, hence their overall success over the last four seasons, which includes a Super Bowl appearance and three trips to the NFC Championship.
A big portion of that success? The developed talent along the defensive line, which has been the core of the team ever since head coach Kyle Shanahan took over in 2017.
After a down, but still fairly strong year from the defensive line in 2022, San Francisco added defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, who had 11 sacks on the Philadelphia Eagles in 2022, to bolster the interior alongside Arik Armstead.
Hargrave joins defensive end Nick Bosa, who led the team with 18.5 sacks en route to winning the Defensive Player of the Year award in
