San Francisco 49ers rookie Nick Bosa sidelined with ankle sprain

Nick Bosa is an immensely talented player and that pedigree set the table for the former Ohio State defensive end to be selected as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. However, the San Francisco 49ers youngster does have a lengthy injury history and, on Wednesday, Bosa suffered a right ankle sprain during training camp activities.

At this juncture, the injury does not appear to be serious, though Ian Rapoport of NFL Network indicates that fans "may not see him in the preseason" due to the ailment. His ankle hasn't been a problem to this point but, in 2018, Bosa missed most of his final college season with a core muscle injury and, after that, the 21-year-old was on the sideline during most of San Francisco's offseason work as a result of a hamstring problem. 

Still, there is optimism about Bosa's play and genuine excitement from the 49ers for when the first round pick returns to the field. 

"He's been progressing very well; very pleased with him," 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said, via ESPN. "He's got a knack for pass rush, [and] he's been very good in the run game. At this point, he's progressing very well. Overall, we're very excited about him."

Despite a dismal performance in 2018, expectations are significant for the 49ers this season, with 40-1 odds to win the Super Bowl. That may not seem like much, but San Francisco is placed in the same tier as Atlanta, Baltimore, Carolina and Houston, with each of those franchises experiencing success more recently than the 49ers. It would certainly help if Bosa was on the field at 100 percent health but, for now, the rookie will be out of action and there will be plenty of intrigue as to when he'll return.