The San Francisco 49ers could be quite short-handed in their season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers this weekend. There is a chance that All-Pro tight end George Kittle isn’t in the lineup as he deals with a groin injury.

Kittle hasn’t participated much at all in the last few weeks and his odds of playing are dropping by the day. He could be joined on the sidelines by star defensive tackle, Nick Bosa. Bosa isn’t dealing with an injury but is holding out as he and the team have been at an impasse on contract negotiations.

Bosa is seeking a top-of-the-market deal that would make him the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL. It is hard to argue against him receiving such an offer coming off of a Defensive Player of the Year campaign.

In his three healthy seasons as a pro, the Ohio State product has cemented his status as one of the best players in the NFL. He has decided that holding out for his extension now is what is best for him as he doesn’t want to leave money on the table.

While the 49ers certainly don’t want to let him leave, there are some real concerns about whether or not they can afford to pay him. As pointed out by Dave Kluge of Football Guys, San Francisco already has a ton of money tied up into a few players.

The 49ers’ roster is loaded with players who are the highest-paid players at their respective positions or near that level. Bosa is looking to join those ranks, but it may not be monetarily possible for the team to pull off.

The record-setting deal that he is going after may not be something the 49ers can put on their salary cap without reworking some other deals. The 49ers certainly have their work cut out for them if they want to get Bosa in the lineup for Week 1 and beyond.