Nick Bosa is back at practice after missing most of OTAs and the San Francisco 49ers' June minicamp with a low-grade hamstring strain. There was some concern that the star rookie might not be signed in time for the start of training camp. That wasn't the case.
Bosa missed most of the 2018 collegiate season due to a core muscle injury. This weekend, he took part in his first practice in full pads since that injury.
"It's football. It's the same stuff. It's just better players," Bosa said. "Throwing on the shoulder pads today, it was a shock to me how long it's been. I don't think I've ever taken a break that long since I was seven years old. It was different, but it's just the best feeling ever, especially in the weather up here. It feels great out there, no humidity. I couldn't be happier."
Bosa did have a few nerves headed into his first NFL practice in full pads. He did, however, get over it quickly.
"Every day you get the butterflies," Bosa said. "It's that kind of sport. You're going full speed against another grown man, so it's nerve-racking. But once you get that first hit, once you get that first play in, those all go away and it starts to be fun."
In addition to working on the practice field, Bosa is soaking up as much knowledge from his veteran teammates along the defensive line.
"Just watching Dee (Ford), [DeForest Buckner], and (Arik) Armstead, and [Solomon Thomas], and all those guys," Bosa said. "They just go super hard every day, and they work on specific things. They don't just go out there and wing it, and just play the plays. They go out, and they try to put themselves in game situations every day."
The 49ers return to practice on Tuesday at 10:15 a.m.