The first NFL practices for Joey Bosa resembled Steph Curry on a pick-up basketball court or Taylor Swift in a county-fair karaoke contest. So dominant was the first-round pick that, amid the laughter and shoulder bumps between onlookers, it was easy to forget the 20-year-old was the youngest man on a field of undrafted rookies and try-out hopefuls.

That was rookie minicamp in May.

Then came organized team activities — with veterans.

“It was completely different,” Bosa said. “You’re going against monsters out there. … The first day I didn’t win one rep in pass rush probably. Now, I’m really starting to get a hang of it again. My moves are coming back.”


It is one thing to bully rookies. It is quite another to do what Bosa did the past three weeks, turning heads of coaches and veteran teammates at OTAs. The defensive end and No. 3 overall pick can put the final touches on his first impression this week when the Chargers begin a three-day minicamp Tuesday.

Summer break follows.

The team won’t reconvene until late July for the start of training camp. Bosa will turn 21 during the off-period, but he already has started to come of age. After right tackle Joe Barskdale bottled him up to start OTAs, the rookie has won his share of exchanges.

“He did a spin move on Joe Barksdale the other day and beat him clean as a whistle,” said defensive end Corey Liuget, a 2011 first-round pick. “He had Joe out there mad. The kid just has some talent, man. I wasn’t doing that as a rookie. I was nowhere near making as many plays as he’s making right now.


“He’s better than I thought he’d be to be honest with you in terms of picking up the playbook and as a person. The kid has his head on his shoulders. That’s just the truth. I can’t sugarcoat it. That’s just what it is.”

To put it simply, so far, Bosa is as advertised.

Off the field, he seems as laidback and level-headed as can be, a calmness in his voice that may someday push Ben Stein as lead product spokesman for Clear Eyes eye drops. On the field, those plus-qualities from Ohio State that fill his scouting report — violent but technical hands, high motor, competitor — all have shown this spring,

As one coach lauded, Bosa is maybe most impressive when trying to contain his own ability.


The Chargers want a high intensity level at practice. They also expect self-awareness: This is practice; protect one another. For defenders like Bosa tasked with getting after the quarterback, that means being a Lamborghini entering a 25 mile-per-hour school zone.

On multiple occasions, rather athletically, Bosa has slammed the brakes.

One example came during a team drill at an OTA practice. Bosa successfully made an inside pass rush move, leaving him with a bee-line to quarterback Philip Rivers.

“I understand it’s practice, and I’m a rookie, and I know where my place is,” said Bosa, who turns 21 on July 11. “Me hitting Philip is not a thing you want to do — I mean, if you’re anybody. … I was coming at Philip. I’m always taught to burst to the quarterback. It’s just second-nature, and then you realize (not to). I kind of hopped and did a roll, somersaulting to the ground to get out of the way. It’s not a good day if you hit that guy.”


“He’s learning how we practice,” coach Mike McCoy said. “When he turns it on, there’s the ‘wow’ factor, obviously.”

Lamborghinis require special maintenance.

Bosa seems to understand that better than most first-year players. After practice, he already has established a routine of receiving treatment for about an hour in the athletic trainer’s room. Then, he has lunch. And then, for roughly another hour, he’ll stretch out his body.

The past few weeks were a transition.


But the Chargers pick has settled in nicely.

“My first day (of OTAs) was rough,” Bosa said. “I come off rookie minicamp, and no one blocks me. Then, I come to this, and I can’t win. You’re going against really good players. In college, when I had a bad day of practice, I’d really get down on myself. I’ve taken a better approach here.

“I’ve realized I’m not going to win every battle. I was like, ‘All right, all I can do is come back tomorrow and get better.’ That’s what my mindset is every single day. Every day, I am getting better. I’m winning a lot of those battles now. I know the defense. I’m definitely where I want to be.”