All eyes were on Nick Bosa in Sunday’s Week 1 matchup between the 49ers and Steelers, but it was second-year edge rusher Drake Jackson who stole the show.
Bosa suited up just three days after returning to the practice field for the first time following a six-week holdout, and two days after signing a five-year, $170 million contract. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year didn’t record any sacks, but the 49ers racked up five as they made life tough for Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett.
After getting just three sacks his entire rookie season, Jackson matched that total on Sunday, highlighting a dominant defensive effort in the 30-7 season-opening win.
Jackson entered the offseason with a bit of fire in his belly, as he was a healthy scratch down the stretch of last year’s playoff run and appeared to land in coach Kyle Shanahan’s doghouse. The 22-year-old, who was the team’s second-round pick last season, became bigger and stronger this summer and couldn’t have had a better start to the season.
“Real happy for him,” Shanahan said. “Drake put in a ton of work this offseason, put in a ton of work going into training camp. Had a setback when he got injured (with his hamstring) so he had to miss a lot of training camp, but he’s worked his butt off to get back. When I get on the plane, I’ll see how he played overall, but he’s got that type of ability. Seems like he had a huge effect on the game.”
The Steelers looked overmatched from their opening drive, as the Niners quickly forced a 3-and-out on the game’s opening possession. The series was capped off by Jackson’s first sack of the day, as he made a strong second effort to track down Pickett for the takedown.
For his second act, Jackson came up huge on third down again, as he tripped up a scrambling Picket to force a punt. The first five drives from Pittsburgh resulted in four 3-and-outs and an interception.
Jackson tacked on his final sack in the final three minutes of the game, as the Steelers made a futile attempt to make the loss look less ugly. If Jackson can continue to be a wrecking ball on the opposite side of Bosa, it will create a pick-your-poison type dilemma for opposing offenses.
“I was watching tape throughout the holdout and it was clear as day that he’s made strides in his work ethic and his preparation and all of his moves out there,” Bosa said. “He’s really been detailed and he put on some weight and he’s still moving like he moves. It’s gonna be dangerous.”
Consider that free-agent signee Javon Hargrave also got a late sack in his 49ers debut, while Arik Armstead was consistently stout in the middle, the Niners d-line looks like it can be a dominant force all season.
“Amazing,” Warner said of the defensive front. “I knew that was going to be the case.”
