Everyone is hoping for a positive end to what has become "Nick Bosa Watch." The reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year did not report to San Francisco 49ers training camp on July 25. He is holding out for a new contract, and the Niners insist that they are working "tirelessly" to get a deal with the talented pass rusher done.
"What I'll tell you is that the communication is ongoing, it's good, it's healthy, and we're working to try to get something done," general manager John Lynch said on Thursday without getting into the details of what roadblocks have delayed the process.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan remains hopeful that his defense's best player will be available when the 49ers open their season on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 10. How much Bosa plays will depend on how game-ready he has kept himself while away.
"Hopefully, we get a chance to get him into practice next week, and if he is, that'll make it a much easier decision for us," Shanahan said.
Mike Yam of NFL Network joined 95.7 The Game on Friday morning, revealing his surprise that the Bosa storyline isn't a bigger one. It seems everyone believes a deal will get done before the season, perhaps lessening the national intrigue. However, the 49ers' first regular-season game is just nine days away.
"I actually think that this is the most underreported story in the NFL," Yam told Joe Spadoni and Larry Krueger. "... He is the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. This is a roster that's ready to win right now. I don't get how this is not done.
"And I know that this is a ridiculous oversimplification of all of this stuff, but he's the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. He is one of the leaders of your football team. And you're ready to go and get to a Super Bowl and potentially go and win it. Don't you just make them the highest defensive player in the league?"
49ers fans are wondering the same thing. Bosa's presence has a significant impact on the rest of the defense. His absense would do the same, but in a negative way. His league-leading 18.5 sacks last season were part of why the unit was the best in the NFL. San Francisco has had an entire offseason to get something done, and here we are on day 39 of a holdout with Week 1 around the corner.
"I just am surprised that it's taken this long," Yam continued. "And once again, I know that's an oversimplification of it—just make him the highest-paid guy and just move on. But the fact that he's not with this team, and I don't know if he's going to play Week 1, to me, that's a huge miss. Huge miss."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Yam below.
