The San Francisco 49ers kick off their 2023 regular season campaign in 20 days. The reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Nick Bosa, continues his holdout as he awaits a contract extension.
The Niners will play their final preseason game on Friday, hosting the Los Angeles Chargers at Levi's Stadium. Bosa probably doesn't need to see any preseason action to get ready for the regular season. However, the talented pass rusher has also missed all of training camp.
At what point is there some serious concern among the 49ers coaching staff about potential rust heading into the season?
"I think you guys have been around here longer than I have, and I've seen it from afar. I think he'll be fine when he gets here," an unconcerned Steve Wilks, the team's defensive coordinator, told reporters after Monday's practice.
None of the pass rusher's teammates are worried, either.
"Bosa is top of the top, from how he trains to how he eats to how he goes about practice," defensive lineman T.Y. McGill said on Monday. "And I see why he's Defensive Player of the Year. I see why he makes the plays that he makes, because of how he works.
"And when you're around guys like that, it's just contagious for you to not only be at the top of your game but to make sure that you're doing everything that you can when you leave this building or when you're in this building, to be able to put your best foot forward."
How often does Wilks inquire about the contract discussions with his best player?
"Out of my pay grade," the coach responded. "Not in my pay grade, so I don't bring it up."
With neither side willing to provide updates on the status of negotiations, one NFL insider recently shared what he knows.
"They continue to talk," NFL Media's Tom Pelissero told Rich Eisen. "[They have a] mutual goal of getting this thing done before the start of the regular season. His fines are rescindable. There's no reason that he shouldn't be a very, very rich man prior to the start of the season."