LAS VEGAS — It’s something of a tradition for the 49ers a few days before a game, when their ferocious edge rusher Nick Bosa addresses the entire team.
This is a practice started by 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan.
“I pick different guys every day to break up the team,” Shanahan said. “I’m always trying to surprise someone, and I try to do it pretty randomly. It makes everyone a little bit wary. I did it randomly with Nick for the first time one Saturday, and I thought he was nice.” We did the job and we won, so we did it the next Saturday. He did a little bit better job…and we won.
“Then we started doing it the next year, and it’s kind of become our tradition ever since. Nick has gotten really good at it. I remember him always being good at it. But it’s funny how people who are so confident in everything they do aren’t always used to speaking in front of a group.
“[Bosa] I would often say that that was when I was the most nervous all week. He started to worry about it on Wednesday. I think he thanked me earlier this year. He was like, “Hey, thanks for doing that.” I’m getting better at it. I’m not so nervous anymore. ”
“He’s really good at it. Everything he says is well thought out. Nick doesn’t use a lot of words, so he doesn’t waste them.”
Kelce is already a playoff legend
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce entered the game with the most receptions (156) in NFL playoff history.
He also has the second-most receiving yards (1,810) and touchdowns (19) in the playoffs, trailing only Jerry Rice in both categories.
Rice had 2,245 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns in the playoffs.
give me personal space
It’s common for a team’s biggest stars to occupy multiple cubicles in the locker room, but 49ers left tackle Trent Williams, 35, is “like a club player,” according to teammate George Kittle. It’s fenced off.”
If you think there’s jealousy on a team with so many star players, think again. The 6-foot-5, 320-pound vessel commands respect among respected people.
“I think Trent needs multiple lockers because he’s a big guy,” cornerback Charvarius Ward said. “For a big man, he’s got a lot of swag as well. He’s a Hall of Famer, so he can get anything he wants. If you’re a Hall of Famer and you’re 35, 36, 37, And if you’re still the best player in the league at that position, I’m sure you can get three, four, five lockers if you want.”
New dad Pugh hopes to return
Justin Pugh was in town briefly as a representative for Lovesac, the furniture company he partnered with, after arriving “right off the couch” to play in the Oct. 15 game against the Giants in Buffalo.
Pugh and his wife Angela recently welcomed their first child, a daughter, whom they named Josephine. Pugh said he would call her Joey.
They still live in the Phoenix area, and Pugh hopes to return to the New Jersey area to continue his career with the Giants.
He could start the final 12 games of the 2023 season and serve as a starter or a key reserve at guard or tackle.
The leadership he showed upon arrival was felt in the locker room among the offensive line.
The Chiefs have left guard Joe Thuney out with a chest injury.
Nick Allegretti, who started in the Super Bowl against the 49ers four years ago, has been the starter all week at left guard and will start in Souney’s place.
