SANTA CLARA – Kyle Shanahan promised this training camp more secrecy to advise opponents, but the 49ers coach lifted his filter Saturday to pass on positive health updates.
First, Shanahan said defensive end Nick Bosa took the practice out as a routine ‘maintenance day’, which came after Bosa sat out the last 30 minutes of Friday’s practice with what appeared to be bone density.
Next, defensive tackle DJ Jones’ left shoulder checked OK after Thursday’s dismissal from practice. But Jones is not in the clear and is instead in the concussion protocol.
Aside from Jalen Hurd’s last Sunday of Jalen Hurd’s knee injury, the 49ers have not sounded any other alarms that potential starters will rule for the September 13 season opener, as planned. That said, tight end Ross Dwelley (foot) joined the non-practice list. Also there: tight end Jordan Reed (conditioning), nickelback K’Waun Williams (calf) and center Ben Garland (ankle).
Here’s what we learned differently at Saturday’s camp:
Garoppolo’s mixed bag
Cornerback Richard Sherman intercepted a reversal of Garoppolo for the second straight day, and Shanahan did not touch his quarterback publicly thereafter. After all, Shanahan said that such practice gifts lead to positive coaching moments, and that have more to do with Garoppolo’s visual discipline of throwing bad cornerbacks like Sherman.
‘Those are not necessarily aggressive. That’s Sherm playing with vision, ”said Shanahan. ‘Both passes were not for the man who did Sherm. If you sail a little or look at one man for too long, Sherm will just follow your eyes and come out of nowhere.
‘That’s something that happens in games when you are not aware of these players. It’s great to remind him, ‘Hey, you need to work on your eyes here.’ … If no one remembers you – like Sherm for a full training camp – and you remember week 1, it’s ‘How crazy is that?’ ”
Sure enough, Garoppolo bounced back and completed the practice by finding a wide open Kendrick Bourne for a 70-yard touch-strike. Broadcasting has been a common sight on Garoppolo passes over 10 yards this camp, but he has also hit players on goal, such as a brilliant throw to Trent Taylor on Saturday and then red zone touchdowns to Brandon Aiyuk and Raheem Mostert.
2. Step Williams’ very praise
Bosa could become known as one of the NFL’s all-time best pass rushers, according to left tackle Trent Williams. Williams has kept daily faceoffs with Bosa busy shaking up the physical and mental peace of not having played last season.
“He’s better than I even thought he was and I already knew he was the top three or four passers in the game,” said Williams, who praised Bosa’s intelligence and work ethic. ‘I honestly see his trajectory as one of the best in the game when all is said and done. If you say who is the best all-round D-end, Nick Bosa’s name will probably be the first to come out of many people’s mouths. “
Williams said he was re-encouraged after “being in the dumps for 16 months.” That fits right in with a team that is still painful about last season’s Super Bowl collapse.
‘We are super confident. They proved it last year. Even though I know watching movie of the Super Bowl, I can feel the shrinkage every time that movie comes up and everyone still kind of holds a grudge over the last game. They can not wait to get out there and start asking this question again. I’m just happy to be a part of it. ”
3. View of Solomon Thomas
Defensive lineman Solomon Thomas has bumped up to 280 pounds, all while rejecting the mental pressure of the no. 3 general concept for pick in 2017. He enters the last year of his rookie contract with optimism to ‘be the best me.
“This year is enormous for me,” Thomas said. ‘Of course it’s a contract year, but that’s not what matters, that’s not in my back. I take it as a year to get into myself. I’m back inside, on the interior, where I played in college, where I’m set up for.
‘I’m back to a place I can devastate and go play. It’s a year for me to go out and play, to have fun and to dance. I have nothing to lose. I’m here to play for my teammates, for the people next to me to play and dance. ”
While preparing for that, Thomas remains a strong advocate for mental health, a cause he took after his sister, Ella, died in 2018.
“With everything in the world happening right now between COVID and all the racial and social injustice, it’s a tough time for mental health,” Thomas said. ‘People are losing jobs and have no place to go. There’s so much uncertainty in the world, it’s a very hard time for people. I try to talk and put an enormous focus on mental health, and show people that it’s such an important time to take care of yourself and keep yourself.
4. Review of Cornerback
The 49ers have not signed or drafted a potential starting back, and so far they should be happy with the competition on the spot against Sherman. Emmanuel Moseley, Ahkello Witherspoon and Jason Verrett have all rotated first-team reps (not so much for Witherspoon) and each has looked like a starting-caliber cornerback.
“We chose to go with what was available. We failed to do that and to bring in a big corner, even though we brought in Sherm a few years ago and that paid off well, ‘said Shanahan. “These younger guys … if they can stay healthy and compete, I know there are a number of guys with whom we can win.”
Witherspoon intercepted Nick Mullens, and Moseley defended nicely a deep pass to Brandon Aiyuk. As for Verrett, Shanahan said it was “great to see him have a healthy camp.”
5. Rookie lineman improves
Colton McKivitz, a fifth-round pick, got the better of a one-on-one matchup with defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw, but then came even harder work. McKivitz, a former refereeing approach at West Virginia, is also auditioning on guard, and sometimes on the first team that Tom Compton spells as Daniel Brunskill. Shanahan praised McKivitiz’s understanding of the playbook through virtual meetings this offseason.
“We originally drafted him and thought he would play approach, then you have injuries and you can throw him on guard,” Shanahan said. ‘He has the ability to play center and go where we want. If you did not start, you would be better able to help than you can, and that’s why (Daniel) Brunskill has been good to us. ”
