Nick Bosa returned to practice on Monday as the San Francisco 49ers prepare for their Week 1 opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The rookie defensive end suffered an ankle sprain during an August 7 practice which kept him out of all four preseason games.

Bosa spoke with reporters on Monday and said that his ankle feels really good and he is optimistic about his readiness for Sunday's game in Tampa, Florida. The 49ers have been hopeful that the No. 2 overall pick would be ready to play during Week 1 with general manager John Lynch, at one point, saying the chances were about 50-50.

"I've been running for a while now," Bosa told reporters. "I think after maybe a week or week and a half out, I was starting to run. It's just about keeping the swelling out and keeping the soreness down but it's feeling really good."

Bosa admitted that he wasn't sure about the severity of injury when it occurred. Even head coach Kyle Shanahan felt the injury might be more serious than it turned out being — possibly even season-ending.


"It obviously turned out pretty good," Bosa added.

Bosa was having an impressive training camp before the injury and was looking like a difference-maker on the practice field. He missed most of the organized team activities and the 49ers' June minicamp with a hamstring injury before returning to practice during training camp.

"It was going really well," Bosa said. "Just getting the rust off and getting back into it. It's not over a year but almost a year since I've played. Just to get back into the groove is really nice. Also to play with really good players makes you better."

Added Bosa, "I don't think I've ever been as motivated in my life to get back. I've had my sights set on playing my first NFL season, and every waking hour was spent getting my ankle right."

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