49ers camp: Are Nick Bosa and few good men enough at defensive end?
Nick Bosa headlines the 49ers' defensive end corps that will have its depth tested this coming season.
SANTA CLARA – Nick Bosa and Leonard Floyd will loom on the defensive front’s edges. Yetur Gross-Matos will be the 49ers’ next-man-up in the rotation.
Who else is there to blast in from defensive end to cause chaos?
The 49ers’ depth there seems a perennial concern, so much so last year they traded for Chase Young and Randy Gregory in their playoff push.
This year, Floyd and Gross-Matos came aboard in free agency with fair, two-year deals. Then the 49ers curiously ignored the position with their eight draft selections.
Monday’s first training camp practice in pads provided a glimpse at how deep — or seemingly thin — the 49ers are at defensive end. Bosa got practice off as part of a scheduled routine to keep him fresh for another potential Super Bowl run.
Also missing: Drake Jackson. The 49ers’ top pick in the 2022 draft will not be part of this training camp, and there’s no indication when, or if, he will come off the Physically Unable To Perform list. He had patellar tendon surgery in January.
“Anytime you do that type of surgery he had … those are big surgeries,” coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday. “It’s tough to come back from. We always know there’s a possibility to take a long time, and it will take a long time.”
Historical reference: Center Weston Richburg never played again after tearing his patellar tendon in the 49ers’ 2019 win at New Orleans. Right tackle Mike McGlinchey also suffered a tendon-related tear that cut short his 2021 season, though he returned for 2022.
Shanahan noted that they knew ahead of camp that Jackson wouldn’t participate, and that they “addressed” the depth by adding Floyd and Yetur-gross Matos.
“We feel good with where we came in with our D-line, and five practices in, we feel good, if not better,” Shanahan said.
Inspiring hope this camp is Robert Beal Jr., a fifth-round pick last year who’s showing a stronger physique. He played sparingly in the last seven games his rookie year (54 defensive snaps, one sack). “He’s trying to be a part of our group and get in that rotation as a rusher and get better in the run game. But, I’ve been excited about Robert,” Shanahan said.
When Sam Okuayinonu tumbled to the grass in pain during Saturday’s practice, it was a sharp reminder that injuries are bound to happen and test the defensive line’s depth. The 49ers need this camp to alleviate that concern.
Austin Bryant and Alex Barrett, who’ve both toiled mostly on the practice squad in recent years, are the only other defensive ends on the roster.
Bosa, the 2022 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, obviously stands out from the rest of his cohorts. Shanahan quipped Monday how Bosa’s absence allows the offense to work more efficiently.
For now, the four-man rotation at defensive end is set: Bosa, Floyd, Gross-Matos and Beal. They’re going to need more than those four horsemen.
PEARSALL DEBUTS
Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, the 49ers’ first-round draft pick, participated in offensive warmups and punt returns, after missing the past two weeks with a hamstring injury that had him on the Non-Football Injury list. He did not partake in 11-on-11 drills. “We wanted him to go today and see how it responds. And if that’s good he should be in practice tomorrow,” Shanahan said.
Also fielding punts were Trent Taylor and Ronnie Bell. Taylor’s experience in the offense from his 2017-20 stint and his experience as a return specialist has Shanahan excited to have him back on the roster.
OTHER INJURY UPDATES
Right guard Spencer Burford did not practice and he’s slated to visit another doctor before possibly undergoing surgery on his fractured right hand.
Running back Isaac Guerendo (hamstring) is expected to miss a couple more weeks. Jacob Cowing and Tay Martin also have hamstring issues but are expected back next week.
PURDY’S PICKS APLENTY
Brock Purdy got intercepted three times, including by Fred Warner and George Odum on red zone drills. The other interception came when Deommodore Lenoir cut off tight end Brayden Willis’ route near the sideline.
PRACTICE NOTES
Rookie cornerback Renardo Green broke up a fade pass intended for Jauan Jennings in the end zone.
Rookie tight end Mason Pline made a nice catch on a 15-yard toss by Josh Dobbs.
Left tackle Trent Williams and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk remained out of action amid contract disputes.
Resting were Bosa, Christian McCaffrey and Jake Brendel.
Dominick Puni lined up as the first-string right guard for a third straight practice.