Sights & Sounds: Prep for Bosa? Steelers OTs, TEs Work Double Teams

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers began their week of preparation for the San Francisco 49ers on Wednesday with the team’s first offical practice of the 2023 NFL regular season.

In his weekly press conference on Tuesday, head coach Mike Tomlin said the team intends to prepare as if 49ers star defensive end Nick Bosa will play, depsite Bosa not having his sought-after contract extension and not having practiced yet this year.

Wednesday, there was evidence of that preparation, as the Steelers tackles and tight ends were working together, practicing double-team blocks on the edge that could help neutralize and elite edge defender like Bosa.

“Yes, we are preparing for Bosa,” Tomlin said. “It’s prudent for us to assume that he’s going to be there and prepare in that vein as opposed to being surprised. We were in a similar circumstance with a dynamic rusher a couple years ago in T.J. We got a deal done at the 11th hour. He showed up in the stadium and he was T.J. Watt that day. And so that’s what those guys do. They show up and they are who they are. And so we expect him to be there. It’s the prudent approach to take. And if he’s going to be there, we know the type of player that he intends on being. So that’s something to be dealt with.”

Meanwhile, Bosa was not seen at 49ers practice on Wednesday, with just a few days to go until the season opener.

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