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Deebo Samuel, Nick Bosa Absent From 49ers’ OTAs

May 24th, 2022 at 9:10am CST by Adam La Rose

As OTAs begin around the league, one of each team’s top storylines has to do with attendance. In the 49ers’ case this year, the bulk of attention is of course drawn to Deebo Samuel. As noted by Matt Barrows of the Athletic (subscription required), the wideout is not with the team currently.

That comes as no surprise, of course; Samuel was named as one of three 2019 draftees who would be skipping on-field work back in April. The timing of the decision was due to the fact that this offseason marks the first in which he can sign a new contract, and the recent dramatic upward trend in the receiver market around the league.

More specific to the Samuel situation in particular is the matter of his tenuous relationship with the club. The 26-year-old requested a trade, despite the team publicly stating that they had budgeted for an extension. A number of teams were interested in acquiring the All-Pro, including the Jets. New York was believed to have offered the No. 10 pick in the draft for him, but Samuel remains on the team for now.

San Francisco has made it clear they intend for that to remain the case, and that they did not get seriously involved in trade talks. With the draft having come and gone, and relations apparently warming to an extent between the two parties, attention is once again turning to his contract situation. The progress made on that front will remain a situation worth watching in the coming weeks.

As Barrows also notes, Nick Bosa is not in attendance for OTAs. The two-time Pro Bowler is working out with his brother Joey Bosa, which, Barrow writes, “he’d likely do if he had a long-term contract or not”. As another member of San Francisco’s 2019 draft class, Bosa is also eligible for a significant raise, though there has been far less controversy surrounding his contract status. Still, the way the 49ers handle the current situation with two of their young stars will be one of the top stories of their offseason.

2023 NFL Fifth-Year Option Results

May 3rd, 2022 at 9:17am CST by Zachary Links

Monday marked the deadline for NFL clubs to officially pick up their options on 2019 first-rounders. Fifth-year option seasons are no longer just guaranteed for injury — they’re now fully guaranteed, which makes these decisions a little tougher for teams.

Nineteen players had their options exercised, a tick up from 14 last year. Here’s the full rundown:

1. QB Kyler Murray, Cardinals – Exercised ($29.7MM)
2. DE Nick Bosa, 49ers: Exercised ($17.9MM)
3. DE Quinnen Williams, Jets: Exercised ($11.5MM)
4. DE Clelin Ferrell, Raiders: Declined ($11.5MM)
5. LB Devin White, Buccaneers: Exercised ($11.7MM)
6. QB Daniel Jones, Giants: Declined ($22.4MM)
7. DE Josh Allen, Jaguars: Exercised ($11.5MM)
8. TE T.J. Hockenson, Lions: Exercised ($9.4MM)
9. DT Ed Oliver, Bills: Exercised ($10.8MM)
10. LB Devin Bush, Steelers: Declined ($10.9MM)
11. OT Jonah Williams, Bengals: Exercised ($12.6MM)
12. LB Rashan Gary, Packers: Exercised ($10.9MM)
13. DT Christian Wilkins, Dolphins: Exercised ($10.8MM)
14. G Chris Lindstrom, Falcons: Exercised ($13.2MM)
15. QB Dwayne Haskins:
16. DE Brian Burns, Panthers: Exercised ($16MM)
17. DT Dexter Lawrence, Giants: Exercised ($10.8MM)
18. C Garrett Bradbury, Vikings: Declined ($13.2MM)
19. DT Jeffery Simmons, Titans: Exercised ($10.8MM)
20. TE Noah Fant, Seahawks: Exercised ($6.9MM; originally drafted by Broncos)
21. S Darnell Savage, Packers: Exercised ($7.9MM)
22. OT Andre Dillard, Eagles: Declined ($12.6MM)
23. OT Tytus Howard, Texans: Exercised ($13.2MM)
24. RB Josh Jacobs, Raiders: Declined ($8MM)
25. WR Marquise Brown, Cardinals: ($13.4MM; originally drafted by Ravens)
26. DE Montez Sweat, Commanders: Exercised ($11.5MM)
27. S Johnathan Abram, Raiders: Declined ($7.9MM)
28. DE Jerry Tillery, Chargers: Declined ($11.5MM)
29. DE L.J. Collier, Seahawks: Declined ($11.5MM)
30. CB Deandre Baker — N/A (released by Giants)
31. OT Kaleb McGary, Falcons: Declined ($13.2MM)
32. WR N’Keal Harry, Patriots: Declined ($12.4MM)

Jaguars Pick Up Josh Allen’s Fifth-Year Option

April 28th, 2022 at 1:56pm CST by Adam La Rose

While there is another, more well-known NFL player with the same name, defensive end Josh Allen has established himself as worthy of a raise going into 2023 in Jacksonville’s eyes. The Jaguars announced on Thursday that they have exercised his fifth-year option.

Allen, 24, went seventh overall to Jacksonville in 2019, making him the third edge rusher off the board. He had an immediate impact as a rookie, posting 44 tackles and 10.5 sacks. That sent him to the Pro Bowl, and earned him consideration for Defensive Rookie of the Year, an honor which ultimately went to second overall pick Nick Bosa.

His 2020 season was hampered by a knee injury, but Allen responded well this past year. In 16 games, he totalled a career-high 71 tackles, along with 7.5 sacks, one forced fumble and an interception. His level of play certainly hasn’t stopped edge rusher from becoming the expected position of tonight’s first overall pick from Jacksonville, but it has provided a foundation for what the team hopes will be a defensive turnaround beginning in 2022.

As a result of today’s news, Allen will earn just over $16MM in 2023. As is the case with most (if not all) players whose options have been picked up in recent days, however, the possibility exists for a long-term extension to be worked out in the not-too-distant future.

49ers Pick Up Nick Bosa’s Fifth-Year Option

April 25th, 2022 at 3:58pm CST by Sam Robinson

In what amounts to a procedural move given the player involved, the 49ers picked up Nick Bosa‘s fifth-year option on Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Bosa is now signed through the 2023 season.

This is one of the easier calls in the option era, and Bosa is eligible for the top-tier option price. Despite missing most of the 2020 season due to injury, Bosa has made two Pro Bowls thus far. That attaches the former No. 2 overall pick to a $17.859MM salary for 2023.

Of course, a market-topping Bosa extension is on the 49ers’ agenda before that salary would come into play. Bosa became extension-eligible in January, and the GM John Lynch said a new deal for the impact defensive end has been budgeted. Although the 49ers have run into complications with Deebo Samuel‘s extension, no clouds have yet emerged regarding the team and Bosa’s future. The 2019 Defensive Rookie of the Year bounced back from a September 2020 ACL tear to record 15.5 sacks and an NFL-leading 21 tackles for loss last season.

San Francisco’s path toward Bosa and Samuel re-ups has also seen Jimmy Garoppolo‘s contract become an obstacle. With barely $700K in cap space, the 49ers rank last in the NFL in available funds. A Garoppolo trade would clear $25.6MM off the team’s books. A deal is still expected, but the surgery Garoppolo underwent on his throwing shoulder has complicated matters.

Bosa (24.5 sacks between the 2019 and ’21 seasons) will be expected to land a deal north of T.J. Watt‘s current market-setting pact. Watt’s $28MM-per-year extension topped Joey Bosa‘s deal ($27MM AAV). The younger Bosa could become the NFL’s first $30MM-per-year defender, with the cap back on its usual course after the pandemic-induced reduction in 2021. Nick Bosa, 24, is attached to an $895K base salary this season. The 49ers have some time here, thanks to this option, but it should be expected Bosa will not play the 2023 season for the option price.

49ers Planning Extensions For Nick Bosa, Deebo Samuel

February 28th, 2022 at 12:07pm CST by Adam La Rose

Change is inevitable for the 49ers this offseason, especially at the quarterback position. Two major pieces to their run to the NFC Championship game, though, could be getting new contracts in the near future. ESPN’s Nick Wagoner reports that extensions for Nick Bosa and Deebo Samuel are in the team’s plans.

“We fully understand these guys are pillars of what we’re trying to do here”, general manger John Lynch said recently. “We’ve been blessed that we’ve been aggressive, because we’ve had a lot of players that we believe are some of the best in the league at what they do. And these guys are no different… I’m sure that we’ll find a way to get [extensions] done. It’s been budgeted for”.

Bosa has been the focal point of the team’s defense since being drafted second overall in 2019. He won Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in his first campaign, helping the team to the Super Bowl. He missed almost all of his second campaign due to a torn ACL, but returned to play all 17 games in 2021. His 52 stops – including a league-leading 21 tackles for loss – along with 15.5 sacks and four forced fumbles helped lead San Francisco on a late-season surge to the postseason, and all the way to the conference title game.

Samuel, the 49ers’ second selection in that 2019 draft, has followed a somewhat similar path in terms of his career arc so far. After an impressive rookie season, he missed nine games in 2020. His 2021 campaign, however, proved that he was back to full strength and capable of becoming the focal point of the team’s offense. Establishing himself as a ‘wide back’, he posted 1,404 receiving yards and six touchdowns, along with 365 yards and an additional eight scores on the ground.

Finding money to accommodate the two young stars should become easier in March. As Wagoner detailed last week, the contracts of not only Jimmy Garoppolo but also edge rusher Dee Ford are likely to come off the books. A Garoppolo trade (which would clear more than $25MM in cap space) has seemed inevitable since the selection of Trey Lance last April, while designating Ford a post-June 1st cut would yield another $2.4MM in savings. The latter move is believed to also be all-but guaranteed, after Ford battled injuries and totalled just 9.5 total sacks in three seasons with San Francisco.

Between those expected moves, and some other cap maneuvering such as restructures, the 49ers should open up enough space to be able to afford their next round of major extensions.

49ers’ Nick Bosa Clears Concussion Protocol

January 21st, 2022 at 5:51pm CST by Adam La Rose

The 49ers got some good news on Friday regarding their best pass rusher. Nick Bosa has cleared concussion protocol, clearing the way for him to suit up against the Packers, per a team announcement.

Bosa suffered the concussion in the team’s Wild Card win over the Cowboys. His head snapped back following a collision with a teammate, causing him to spend a prolonged amount of time in the locker room before being declared out for the rest of the game. The fact that San Francisco is on a short week lessened his chances of clearing the protocol, but he is officially listed without an injury designation. That also holds true for star linebacker Fred Warner, who confirmed earlier this week that the ankle injury he sustained in the Cowboys’ game wasn’t serious enough to keep him out of the Divisional Round.

The 24-year-old’s third NFL season – only his second not severely shortened due to injury – saw him register 52 tackles, 15.5 sacks and four forced fumbles, enough to be named to a second Pro Bowl. Even with missing more than half of last week’s game, he still managed three tackles and a half-sack. He will no doubt play a huge role in trying to slow down Green Bay’s potent offense.

In the aftermath of last week’s win, things weren’t initially looking good for the 49ers’ two best defensive players. Now, they will have a very healthy unit traveling to Lambeau Field on Saturday.

Injury Updates For 49ers, Buccaneers

January 17th, 2022 at 1:28pm CST by Adam La Rose

While the Buccaneers and 49ers both won on Sunday, they each suffered major injuries in the process. For the 49ers, defensive stars Nick Bosa and Fred Warner both exited the game early; for the Bucs meanwhile, offensive linemen Tristan Wirfs, Ryan Jensen and Josh Wells are all banged up.

According to Eric Brach of the San Francisco Chronicle, the status for both Bosa and Warner are “up in the air”. Bosa had to leave the game with a concussion suffered in the second quarter, while Warner exited due to an ankle injury in the fourth. In the latter’s case, there is some reason for optimism, though. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said that Warner’s injury is “similar to what he did earlier in the year”, referring to another ankle injury sustained in Week 12 against the Vikings, which resulted in his only missed game of the season. Shanahan added, “I think he’s got a chance” to play on Saturday against the Packers. In his first regular season since signing a record-breaking extension, Warner totalled 137 tackles, four pass deflections and a forced fumble, adding five stops against the Cowboys. The 25-year-old tweeted an encouraging update, saying, “sorry for the scare yesterday everyone… we’ll be good to go”.

For Bosa, on the other hand, a return to the field would be less likely. After colliding with teammate D.J. Jones, his head snapped back, and caused him to lay on the field for a matter of minutes. He was initially taken to the medial tent, but spent the remainder of the first half in the locker room and remained there past the beginning of the third quarter. The fact that the 49ers are on a short week doesn’t help his chances of clearing the league’s concussion protocol. In less than one half of action against Dallas, the two-time Pro Bowler recorded three tackles and a half-sack, after totalling 15.5 sacks and four forced fumbles in 17 regular season games. His absence against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers’ offense would be massive.

Meanwhile, the Buccaneers will likely have to wait most of the week to see how healthy their offensive line will be. Head coach Bruce Arians stated that Wirfs, the team’s All-Pro right tackle, suffered a sprained ankle and will be in a walking boot throughout the week, according to ESPN’s Jenna Laine. Arians said “there’s a chance” Wirfs will be able to play, but that Laine adds “it will likely come down to the wire”. If the 2020 13th overall pick were to miss the Bucs’ next game, it would be the first of his young career. As for Jensen, the Pro Bowl center, an ankle sprain didn’t cause him to miss any snaps in the game, but Arians said he “will probably go all the way until Friday before we know anything true”. Jensen hasn’t missed a game in his four years in Tampa Bay.

Lastly, Wells, who took over for Wirfs at right tackle, suffered a quad injury. Like the others, Arians admitted the team will “have to wait and see” if he’ll be available on Sunday. Arians is understandably concerned about the offensive line’s current health situation, regardless of their next opponent. The Bucs will need to deal with either a defensive front featuring Chandler Jones and J.J. Watt if the Cardinals win tonight, or one featuring Aaron Donald and Von Miller in the event the Rams win.

Latest On Nick Bosa, Dee Ford

May 31st, 2021 at 8:11pm CST by Sam Robinson

Nick Bosa was not currently among the 80-plus 49ers working at the team’s facility for OTAs last week, but Kyle Shanahan is keeping in contract with the recovering defensive end. Bosa is training in Florida this offseason.

The 2019 Defensive Rookie of the Year suffered an ACL tear in Week 2 of last season. His rehab effort continues to unfold according to plan. The 49ers expect Bosa to be ready for training camp.

“I’ve been talking to Nick since February on this. He came out in February for a while to get checked up on his knee and stuff. With him coming off the ACL and everything, it’s going great,” Shanahan said, via ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner. “… He’s going to show up at some time during this (offseason), but he won’t be going out there doing anything coming off the ACL. But we fully expect him to be ready for training camp.”

One of numerous 49ers to go down with a significant injury last season, Bosa is the most important player on San Francisco’s defense. His arrival coincided with the 49ers going from 23rd to second in DVOA from 2018 to ’19, and the team will certainly count on him to spearhead a 2021 rebound effort.

While Dee Ford has not proven reliable since the 49ers traded for him two years ago, he remains with the team due to the guarantees on his contract. Ford has battled a litany of injuries since arriving in San Francisco; he missed five games in 2019 and 15 in 2020. A back malady sidelined Ford last year. Although Shanahan was not as emphatic about Ford being ready for camp, the fifth-year HC said (via The Athletic’s Matt Barrows, subscription required) the veteran defensive end has made strides and is headed in the right direction. Ford will not take part in on-field work until training camp.

Ford’s reworked contract makes him an unrealistic trade or cut candidate, so the 49ers are prepared to move forward with the injury-prone situational rusher. He, Bosa and Arik Armstead remain from the Super Bowl LIV pass-rushing crew. The latter duo will be expected to spearhead this season’s rush, with 2021 Ford contributions likely viewed as a bonus.

Nick Bosa Progressing Well In Recovery From ACL Tear

April 11th, 2021 at 12:03pm CST by Rory Parks

The 49ers have been a fixture in the news cycle in recent weeks due to their trade up for the No. 3 overall pick in the draft, the speculation that comes standard with such a move, and the potential fallout for incumbent QB Jimmy Garoppolo. However, the team’s fortunes in 2021 and beyond will be influenced not just by what they do with the No. 3 pick, but also by DE Nick Bosa.

Bosa, of course, suffered a torn ACL in Week 2 of the 2020 season, just one of a number of major injuries that torpedoed San Francisco’s chances to repeat as NFC champions. The fact that he was injured so early in the season at least indicated that he would be ready by the start of the 2021 campaign, but in addition to the ACL tear, Bosa sustained further cartilage damage in his left knee, which complicated the prognosis. And as the Niners’ own Ronald Blair learned, ACL surgeries are not always successful.

Luckily, it appears that Bosa, the 2019 Defensive Rookie of the Year, is on the right track. As Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area writes, all signs are pointing towards a full recovery, and Maiocco’s piece includes several videos showing Bosa sprinting in a straight line while pulling a weighted sled and doing other drills.

One look at the videos suggests, as the 49ers hoped, that Bosa will indeed be ready to roll come Week 1, if not much sooner. The team views itself as a title contender this year, and a healthy Bosa will go a long way towards achieving that goal.

The Ohio State product tallied nine sacks in 2019, the second-highest total on the team. He added four sacks in three playoff contests at the end of the season, including the 49ers’ Super Bowl loss to the Chiefs. If San Francisco had held on to win that game, Bosa might have been named Super Bowl MVP.

49ers DE Nick Bosa Has Torn ACL, Done For Season

September 27th, 2020 at 10:25am CST by Ben Levine

Sep. 27: In addition to the torn ACL, Bosa sustained further cartilage damage in his left knee, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports. The 49ers are hopeful that the extra damage will not delay Bosa’s return, and the club remains optimistic that he will be back in time for the start of the 2021 campaign. Bosa will undergo surgery this week.

Sep. 21: Nick Bosa is done for the year. The 49ers announced that their star pass rusher has indeed suffered a torn ACL in his left knee. This doesn’t come as much of a surprise, as head coach Kyle Shanahan hinted at the injury following yesterday’s win.

The injury is obviously a massive blow to the 49ers defense, as the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year was establishing himself as one of the top rushers in the game. The former second-overall pick earned a Pro Bowl nod last season after compiling 47 tackles, nine sacks, and a forced fumble. He had another forced fumble during the 49ers’ Week 1 loss to the Cardinals.

If there’s any consolation, Bosa should be good to go for the start of next season. Plus, other than core muscle surgery during his time at Ohio State, Bosa has generally stayed healthy during his playing career.

The 49ers are dealing with injuries throughout their roster. It sounds like defensive tackle Solomon Thomas also suffered a torn ACL, while defensive end Dee Ford is sidelined with a neck injury and cornerback Richard Sherman is sitting on IR with a strained calf. The offense isn’t immune; the team has a depth-chart worth of wideouts sidelined (including Deebo Samuel), tight end George Kittle is dealing with a knee ailment, and running backs Raheem Mostert and Tevin Coleman will be out this weekend against the Giants. Fortunately, it sounds like quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo‘s high-ankle sprain isn’t too serious.

The team has already added Ziggy Ansah to their squad, and it wouldn’t be shocking if the organization signs some more depth along the defensive line.