The first start of Yosh Nijman’s NFL career will come on the road in a hostile environment against an unbeaten NFC contender featuring one of the best young edge rushers in football.
The Green Bay Packers are expected to start Nijman at left tackle on Sunday night against Nick Bosa and the San Francisco 49ers, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
Nijman was an undrafted free agent out of Virginia Tech in 2019. He has spent the last three seasons in Green Bay, learning under offensive line coach Adam Stenavich and preparing for a moment just like this one.
This summer, Nijman cemented himself as a preferred backup at offensive tackle with a terrific three-game performance at left tackle during the preseason. In fact, he was one of a few stars for the Packers during the preseason slate.
According to Pro Football Focus, Nijman played 138 snaps at left tackle over the three preseason games and allowed just two total pressures. He also received excellent grades as a run-blocker.
Sunday night will be a totally different test.
The 49ers primarily use Bosa, the 2019 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, on the right side against left tackles, with a sprinkling of Samson Ebukam in a rotational role. This means Nijman will be facing Bosa on 80 percent of more of the Packers’ offensive snaps on Sunday night. And he’ll be doing it in front of a frenzied 49ers fanbase in the team’s home opener at Levi’s Stadium.
If Nijman starts at left tackle, and Jon Runyan, Josh Myers and Royce Newman also start, the Packers will go into Sunday night with four starting offensive linemen without a true road start in the NFL. Myers and Newman both started in Jacksonville against the Saints in front of a half-empty crowd featuring at least half Packers fans.
Expect the Packers to give Nijman plenty of help against Bosa, even if it means putting others – including right tackle Billy Turner – in one-on-one situations most of the night. Veteran tight end Marcedes Lewis and chips from running backs and the other tight ends could all be part of the protection plan for the Packers on the left side.
The Packers will also need to use pre-snap motion and the run game to keep Bosa out of full-on attack mode.
Sunday night is a huge test for Nijman, Stenavich and Matt LaFleur. The three need to work together to survive the battle with Bosa and give Aaron Rodgers and the Packers a chance to win the game.
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