San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan recently stated that he isn't stressing over the contract status of his best defensive player, pass rusher Nick Bosa. The reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year continues to hold out as he awaits a new deal.
The Niners' 2023 season kicks off in 19 days. With Week 1 on the horizon, the coach still isn't losing sleep over the negotiations.
"Nothing's changed," Shanahan said when asked how he felt about the situation.
Bosa did not report to training camp with his teammates on July 25. He hasn't had the benefit of preparing for the season with his team. Is the lack of preparation concerning?
"You never know until you put him through that," Shanahan said. "I think Bosa's first year here, I think he got a high-ankle sprain. I think he went the first week of practice, and then we didn't see him again until the Wednesday versus Tampa Bay, and he played in that game.
"It's different for every player. I have as much confidence [in] Nick as any player I've ever been around. You always want it to be more time. I wish it was three weeks. I wish it was five weeks. [I'm] not sure how many weeks it's going to be, but you always would like more."
Most felt a deal would be done by now, yet both sides continue to work out the details. That doesn't surprise the head coach.
"It's going pretty much exactly how I expected it to go," Shanahan said. "It's kind of just been exactly what I thought. ... Yeah, I had a feeling it would [take this long]."
When might something be finalized?
"Hopefully sooner [rather] than later," Shanahan responded.
On Monday, defensive coordinator Steve Wilks said he wasn't concerned about Bosa joining the team late and potentially being rusty.
"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 Wilks told reporters.
