Injuries that keep a player out of voluntary organized team activities during the NFL offseason program don’t typically come with direct consequence. Medical problems are never good, but it’s generally more important for players to be healthy in camp than in OTAs. That’s why teams are so cautious with their injuries during offseason workouts.
49ers first-round pick Nick Bosa won’t have the same luxuries as some of his banged-up teammates. His absence from OTAs puts him behind the curve upon his expected return for training camp in late July. The missed work in the spring only makes his transition to the NFL more difficult.
“For me, it’s always been, you use your skills or you lose your skills,” 49ers pass rush coach Chris Kiffin said, according to Chris Biderman of the Sacramento Bee. “I don’t do it often, but I can still get on there and ride a bike. For Nick, he really needs those live reps.”
Bosa suffered a minor hamstring strain early in the team’s second practice. San Francisco elected to shut down the rookie defensive end.
A veteran defensive end would simply rest and come back for camp ready to go. Bosa’s lack of experience makes the transition more difficult. The college-to-NFL jump becomes even more daunting for the former Ohio State Buckeye when factoring in that he played in only three games last fall before having surgery to repair a core muscle injury.
If he plays in the 49ers’ regular-season opener, it will have been one week shy of a year between live games for Bosa.
This isn’t any reason for San Francisco to hit the panic button, but it’s certainly worth keeping an eye on considering how vital Bosa is expected to be during his rookie campaign. The 49ers are banking on him and newly acquired edge rusher Dee Ford to provide a one-two pass-rushing punch that helps catapult their defense to a championship level.
The longer it takes Bosa to get up to speed, the more worrisome his inexperience becomes. Luckily, the 21-year-old has the veteran Ford to learn from, while also going against two very good tackles: Joe Staley and Mike McGlinchey. Getting matched up against them will help get Bosa up to speed, according to Kiffin, but losing the OTA reps only makes the task more daunting.
Every rookie faces an uphill battle when he first joins the NFL. Bosa has until Sept. 8 to get up to game speed in time for the regular season. Chances are, a player with his talent level won’t have a tough time adapting, but it’s another thing stacked against him and another way injuries have impacted the 49ers over the last few seasons.
If Bosa has a strong camp and produces in his first year, the injury in OTAs will be long forgotten. If he struggles, though, it may be viewed as the cause of a tough rookie season.
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