SANTA CLARA — Nick Bosa felt an obligation to be a more vocal leader this year, but after the 49ers star’s season-ending ACL injury, the defensive line will need other members to pick up the slack.
The most veteran member of the group is Bryce Huff, who only been with San Francisco since the summer.
“I definitely try to lead by example,” Huff said Wednesday. “Just go out and handle my business every day. I feel the need to do what I’ve been brought here to do, and that’s play at a high level.”
Coach Kyle Shanahan believes there already is healthy amount of leadership in the defensive line room.
“I don’t expect anybody ever to be a leader and do something just different saying, ‘Hey, I have to be more of a leader today.’ ” Shanahan said. “I think Bryce Huff has been a leader since he’s been here. The guy works every day, doesn’t talk a lot, but when he does, people listen. I love how he’s been here, how he does practice, how he plays in games and I expect that to continue.”
Originally an undrafted free agent, Huff spent his first four NFL seasons with the New York Jets, three of those with 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh as his head coach. The pass-rush specialist spent 2024 with the Philadelphia Eagles before being traded to San Francisco.
“It’s really a next-man-up mentality,” Huff said. “We’ve all been brought here to perform at a high level, so with Nick being out, we really have to pick up the slack on that front, and go out and put our best for forward.”
The group has three young rookies that the team drafted after releasing several veterans during the offseason. Huff has been impressed with their improvements through the summer as well as the first three games.
“Hard-working guys,” Huff said. “They show up every day ready to work and find ways to get better. I feel like they are definitely going to have some big plays coming up soon.”
For now, the leader in pressures through three games is Huff, who has racked up two sacks, one hit and eight hurries, tying him for 25th in the league among linemen who have been on the field for at least 65 percent of the defensive snaps.
Before his injury, Bosa had recorded 10 pressures — two sacks, two hits and six hurries — while rookie Mykel Williams was not too far behind with nine total pressures — one hit and eight hurries.
“Mykel has been on point,” Huff said. “He came in, first-rounder. He’s playing like a first-rounder. He’s making great plays, had a lot of consistent pressure last week. I’m looking forward to seeing how he develops.”
The group cannot replace Bosa on the field but look to do as much as they can to pressure opposing quarterbacks as a unit.
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