The 49er of Week 10: Defensive End Nick Bosa

No surprise, this week’s standout player of the game is San Francisco 49ers pass rusher Nick Bosa.

The 25-year-old defensive end has been a wrecking ball all season, producing another stellar performance in Week 10 against the LA Chargers. He finished with four solo tackles, four quarterback hits, three TFLs, and one sack to cap off a great defensive showing by the 49ers. He also played 97% of the snaps against LA, his highest usage rate of the season by a whopping margin.

Through the first 10 weeks, Bosa is top three in most major pass-rushing categories, including first in QB hits at 24. His stats have accumulated to a 90.6 grade on Pro Football Focus, one of the highest numbers in the league. The crazy part: He’s only played in eight games thus far, missing Week 6 in Atlanta with a groin injury.

Most QB Hits this season

Nick Bosa 24
Matt Judon 19
Montez Sweat 19
Quinnen Williams 17
Za'Darius Smith 17@nbsmallerbear is laying the SMACK DOWN this year @49ers pic.twitter.com/YbDMUslhIi

— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) November 14, 2022

Bosa has been the catalyst for the 49ers’ defense in 2022, making it easier for others (LB Fred Warner), to operate against electric offenses like the Chargers. The unit as a whole pitched a shutout in the second half of Sunday night’s game, holding QB Justin Herbert to less than 200 yards passing for the first time this season.

It wasn’t pretty by any means, but the 49ers got a win and that’s all that matters to the team.

“Yeah definitely,” Bosa said postgame Sunday. “[San Francisco 49ers Head Coach] Kyle [Shanahan] said at the end it really wasn’t our type of game that we were going for, it’s kind of how the Chargers have won throughout the year. They kind of hang in there and then they make plays at the end, and I’m really proud of the defense for stepping up.”

"That's a sackeroonie, baby!" – Nick Bosa 😅😂 #49ers || #FTTB
🎥: @insidetheNFL pic.twitter.com/yCnvkMl401

— OurSF49ers (@OurSf49ers) November 16, 2022

A two-time Pro Bowl player, Nick Bosa is already on his way to another league nomination, this time looking for his first outright defensive award with the Defensive Player of the Year Award up for grabs. And with two premier matchups against desolate offensive lines on the horizon (Cardinals & Saints), the former Ohio State standout could have a firm hold on the title by the end of the month.

Related

The 49ers’ O-Line could determine Christian McCaffrey’s ceilingEntering 2026, health remains the 49ers’ greatest concernTrent Williams Ranked No. 40 in NFL Top 100Kyle Shanahan provides key 49ers injury updates ahead of preseason finaleFaithful Flashbacks #11: The Catch IIBrooks: De’Zhaun Stribling is “the absolute real deal”