SANTA CLARA — Let the record reflect that a red No. 97 jersey returned to action for the 49ers on 9/7/23.
Nick Bosa, a day after agreeing to a historic contract extension, worked on his individual conditioning while his 49ers teammates began Thursday’s practice, with the season opener coming Sunday at Pittsburgh.
Bosa looked as fit as ever. Rather than force-feed him into practice for the first time since last season’s playoffs, the 49ers had him stretch and do light running while shadowed by head strength coach Dustin Perry.
Defensive coordinator Steve Wilks expressed excitement to have Bosa back for the first time since June’s minicamp. In quite the understatement, Wilks added: “He brings a little bit more to the game plan.”
How much will Bosa play Sunday? Wilks said that will depend on “a feel of the game,” though he noted that the 49ers will take into consideration Bosa’s workload over the first two games before their Thursday night home opener in Week 3 against the New York Giants.
Running back Christian McCaffrey said he and everybody were “fired up” at Bosa’s arrival Thursday.
“When it comes to Bosa, he wants to do one thing, and that’s sack the quarterback,” said McCaffrey, who then added that Bosa also will “do what he can for the defense and to win football games.”
As the 49ers shifted into regular-season preparations the past two weeks, Bosa quietly worked out with his father, John, a former Miami Dolphins defensive end. They did so at the Fort Lauderdale, Fla., gym that Nick’s older brother, Joey, built and where the brothers routinely work out in the offseason.
“The workouts for the last week were very quiet, and that’s Nick’s personality, when he has some stress or is nervous, he gets very quiet,” John Bosa said on KNBR 680-AM.
Bosa focused on his speed and explosion there, and he did some of that in Thursday’s side work with 49ers head strength coach Dustin Perry. “There is nothing that replicates the pounding of a football game, and that (conditioning) really won’t affect him on Sunday,” John Bosa added. “What it will do is affect his soreness after the first game. That kind of soreness is what you work through the first week of camp.”
Bosa’s mom, Cheryl, also chimed in on the Bay Area radio, telling 95.7 The Game on Wednesday: “Physically, he’s a specimen. He’s in better shape than he’s ever been in his life. He’s faster than he was, he’s stronger than he was last year if you can imagine. That’s all fact.”
John Bosa broke down and cried when his son phoned him with the contract news they’ve awaited. “About a half-hour after that I was picking him up and driving him to Palm Beach to the terminal. It was an awesome call, one I’ll never forget,” John Bosa added. “Nick is a very happy person, and for the last 10 days he was not happy. He was grinding, his training was definitely straight up and he didn’t miss a beat and doing everything that he does after the workout. But he wasn’t happy.”
Bosa was not made available to the media after practice, in which the 49ers officially listed him as “limited” but not due to injury. He remains on the Reserve/Did Not Report list, from which he must be activated by Saturday at 1 p.m. PT to play in the opener.
On Wednesday, Bosa agreed to the richest contract in 49ers history and the NFL’s largest for a non-quarterback: five years, $170 million. He flew in Wednesday night from his native Florida and was at the 49ers’ facility at 6 a.m. Thursday. He attended the mandatory minicamp three months ago but did no on-field action, and then skipped all of training camp and the preseason.
“Football is what I love to do most in the world, and I think it’s the same for him,” McCaffrey said. “When it’s your favorite thing to do, you live your life by doing everything humanly possible to do the best you can at it.”
CAPTAIN PURDY
As was the case at Iowa State, Brock Purdy needed only one season to prove worthy and be named a team captain. “When we came in for a meeting and voted on that stuff, I was like, ‘Shoot, I sort of forgot about voting for a captain,’ ” Purdy said. “Once we came back a couple days later, I saw my name on the board and I was like, ‘Wow, what an honor.’ ”
Joining Purdy are five other captains, as coach Kyle Shanahan announced Wednesday: Arik Armstead, George Kittle, Deebo Samuel, Fred Warner and Trent Williams.
Sunday marks the six-month mark since surgery to repair Purdy’s throwing elbow, and he said last week’s reduced throws were helpful to freshen up his arm to get it 100 percent ready. “It’s going to be a long ride for the season, so it was all part of the plan and the arm feels really good,” Purdy said.
WARD, HUFANGA DON’T PRACTICE
Cornerback Charvarius Ward (heel) did not practice, and safety Talanoa Hufanga was excused to deal with a personal matter, according to the team’s participation report. Defensive coordinator Steve Wilks expects Ward to play Sunday and that “it’s not an issue with me.” Wilks was not as definite regarding Hufanga, more so because of the personal reasons behind his absence rather than a knee cyst Hufanga’s dealt with the past month.
The Steelers had only one player not practice, defensive tackle Cameron Heyward, because of a combination of rest and a stomach issue. Fellow defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi (foot) was the only player listed as limited.
LIMITED PLAYERS
Tight end George Kittle anticipates playing rather than letting a groin issue sideline for his second straight season opener. How is he? “Wonderful. I get to play football and have the best job in the world besides you guys (reporters), and I’m excited to play on Sunday,” responded Kittle.
Kittle was limited In practice, as were kicker Jake Moody (quadriceps), return specialist Ray-Ray McCloud (wrist), safety Tashaun Gipson Sr. (back), running back Jordan Mason (foot) and linebacker Oren Burks (knee) were limited but look on track to play Sunday. Returning after sitting out Wednesday’s session were left tackle Trent Williams (rest) and backup center Jon Feliciano (illness).
