Week 1 of the 2023 NFL regular season is officially started for any team that doesn’t play on Thursday Night Football. In other words, teams who play on Sunday have officially started their week of preparation for their first game.

For many teams, this is nothing of note, but for the San Francisco 49ers, it was significant. It was, past tense, significant based on the fact their All-Pro, and reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Nick Bosa remained away from the team with his holdout.

Nonetheless, despite reports earlier Wednesday that Bosa wasn’t in the facility, Adam Schefter of ESPN is now reporting Bosa has signed a huge 5-year extension.

Source: Nick Bosa has agreed to a five-year, $170 million extension with the San Francisco 49ers, including $122.5 million guaranteed, by a wide margin. It will make him the highest-paid defensive player in history. pic.twitter.com/bRm6S9Eemf

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 6, 2023

Bosa now becomes the highest paid defender in NFL history, but will he be ready to go on Sunday vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium?

Will Bosa be in “game shape”? That’s a different discussion altogether.

A few years ago when T.J. Watt had a similar contract discussion with the Steelers, the two handled their respective situations vastly different. Watt had a “hold in” where he participated in every day of training camp practice, but only individual drills. Bosa hasn’t been around the team for the duration of training camp or the preseason. Following Watt signing a deal prior to Week 1, he had 2 sacks but talked about how he wasn’t in regular game shape.

Bosa is the same type of player, and could do plenty of damage now that he and the 49ers have come to terms on a contract.

Be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the 49ers this Sunday at Acrisure Stadium.