When San Francisco 49ers’ DE Nick Bosa walked into his media session after Day 2 of training camp, the 2019 Defensive Rookie of the Year did so with a mask on. He then confirmed that he has not yet decided whether to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
“I’m just evaluating everything right now,” Bosa said. “I haven’t made a decision quite yet. But I’m following the protocols and will see where it goes.”
The NFL’s COVID regulations say that unvaccinated players are required to wear a mask, and though Bosa noted after a long answer to a question that “it’s tough with this mask on”, those are the rules. Unvaccinated players are also required to be tested daily.
On Tuesday, general manager John Lynch said the team was about 90% vaccinated, but currently CB Emmanuel Moseley, S Jaquiski Tartt and WR Jauan Jennings are on the Reserve/COVID-19 list.
Vaccination status aside, Bosa, who suffered a torn ACL in Week 2 of the 2020 season, says he is on track for the 49ers’ Week 1 game against the Detroit Lions.
“…[E}verything now is trending toward that,” Bosa said. “I’m hoping to ramp it up toward that and give it all I’ve got Week 1. Right now, I’m feeling very close.”
Bosa has been wearing a support sleeve over his left knee, but has shown no signs of being limited by the injury. Thus far, he has participated in individual drills but not in full-team drills yet.
“You won’t really know how it responds until you take a real rep and have a big offensive lineman pushing on you and all of that stuff,” Bosa said. “We’re trying to simulate it as much as possible right now. My body’s responding really well, so once I get out there and go against Trent [Williams] a few times, I think it’ll be a pretty quick confidence boost.”
“It is a combination of Nick and again, with our medical staff,” said 49ers’ defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans. “I think when Nick’s ready, he’ll be ready to go and we’ll be happy to have him when he’s out there.”
Noticeably leaner, Bosa said that he’s “…been pounding a ton of green juice, and really healthy raw vegetables, salads and a ton of protein” to stay around 260 pounds.