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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Kyle Madson

Nick Bosa is 49ers highest-graded defender by PFF in Week 1

Nick Bosa didn’t get any training camp or preseason in while he held out amid negotiations on a long-term contract extension. He signed his deal in time to have a limited participation in Thursday’s practice, and then a full participation in Friday’s walk-through.

There were plenty of questions leading into Sunday’s season opener about how much Bosa would play and how effective he could actually be without having played football all offseason.

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The reigning Defensive Player of the Year wound up playing 35 defensive snaps, and the answer to whether he’d be ready to produce in an NFL game was a resounding, ‘yes.’

Bosa according to Pro Football Focus was San Francisco’s highest-graded defender thanks in part to his four pressures, one QB hit and three hurries in 28 pass rushing snaps. He also posted a run stop and didn’t miss a tackle.

It was clear, especially early, that Bosa was still getting his game legs under him, but the fact he went on to play as well as he did is a great sign for San Francisco’s defensive front.

Here’s a quick rundown of the 49ers’ highest-graded defenders from Sunday:

DE Nick Bosa

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Snap count: 35
Overall grade: 85.5

DE Clelin Ferrell

(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Snap count: 31
Overall grade: 84.5

DT Kevin Givens

(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Snap count: 20
Overall grade: 83.8

DT Javon Hargrave

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Snap count: 42
Overall grade: 83.7

DE Drake Jackson

Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

Snap count: 28
Overall grade: 82.3

DT Arik Armstead

(Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

Snap count: 41
Overall grade: 78.9

SS Talanoa Hufanga

Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

Snap count: 61
Overall grade: 77.9

CB Charvarius Ward

(Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

Snap count: 51
Overall grade: 76.1

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