Nick's Notes Day 5

- Second day in pads and though there were some good things from the defense, this practice was mostly about how out of sync the offense looked. Missed throws, dropped balls, fumbled snaps, it was overall pretty ugly. 

- Coach Kyle Shanahan had his longest stint on the practice field and even spent part of the final periods in team drills behind the offense, giving feedback in real time rather than standing next to GM John Lynch. A good sign for his progress in addition to running a team meeting this morning. Perhaps not a coincidence he wanted to be back involved as the offense struggled through this one. - The injuries to the roster are accumulating again. Rookie WR De'Zhaun Stribling (hamstring tightness) and edge Romello Height (elbow) and DL Cam Sample (knee) did not practice today. They joined WR Christian Kirk (calf), S Malik Mustapha (hamstring), RB Jordan James (rib), OT Vederian Lowe (ankle) DT Gracen Halton (knee bone bruise) and DT C.J. West as those not participating. - During practice, DL Keion White (adductor) and DL Mikail Kamara (knee) suffered injuries and didn't finish the session. Kamara was taken off on a cart. RB Kaelon Black also appeared to be shaken up, as he participated in early portion of team drills but then didn't take any more reps in the back half of practice or so. - RB Isaac Guerendo, DL Mykel Williams, West and Halton were all doing at least some form of work on the side during practice. Guerendo, in particular, seems to be healing well. - WR Deebo Samuel's first practice back included plenty of work in individual and then limited to about 10 reps in team drills. Samuel looked like he had fresh legs and the Niners got him the ball about four times, including on one connection with QB Brock Purdy over the middle for a big catch and run. It was one of the few highlights of the day for the offense with Deebo drawing loud cheers from the fans each time he touched the ball. - Some notes from one-on-one pass rush drills today: G Dominick Puni has looked excellent so far. The Niners are limiting his reps, perhaps wisely so, but when he steps in, he's been stout. He had a good rep against Osa Odighizuwa and another even better one later against Sebastian Valdez. Worth noting Odighizuwa got Puni back later in team drills for a would-be sack... OT Trent Williams is fine after whatever shot he took in yesterday's practice. He took his one rep today, shutting down Sam Okuayinonu and then resumed side work with DE Nick Bosa... The Niners might have a couple of young DTs worth developing in Bryson Eason and James Thompson Jr. Both had some good reps today and this is the second straight day Thompson has flashed. He has powerful hands and can really deliver a blow. He gave Brett Toth, Carver Willis and Nick Zakelj problems on reps today... Okuayinonu had a nice rush against Enrique Cruz, putting him on skates and moving him into the QB's lap... Think this drill is where White felt the tightness in his adductor. He came up a bit gimpy after a rush against Isaac Alarcon. - On to the offense in team drills. For whatever reason, they just could not seem to find a rhythm this whole practice. They weren't far off but in one sequence QB Brock Purdy overthrew an open Kyle Juszczyk on a deep ball and two plays later did the same to the opposite side for RB Christian McCaffrey. In the next set of reps for the 1s, he was a bit long for Mike Evans (hit his fingertips) and then was too high for Jordan Watkins before hitting Deebo in stride. Again, this is practice and the whole point is to get timing down but it was just one of those days. - The offensive issues weren't limited to Purdy, either. Mac Jones had his share of misfires and there were some drops in there. At one point, there was a botched snap involving Jones too. - The top offense did find the end zone during move the ball drill to end the practice as Purdy found TE Luke Farrell on a deep out that Farrell turned into a touchdown. - On the other side of the coin, there was some good defense being played, too. CB Deommodore Lenoir got his hands on a couple of passes for breakups as did Renardo Green, Jack Jones and Upton Stout. And there was some pressure with Odighizuwa and Okuayinonu showing up the most. It was a challenging day for the defensive line because of all the injuries but those who were able to go battled through and had some production. - Not watching as closely as last year because there's not really a competition there but K Eddy Piñeiro looks to be in midseason form. He hit all of his field goal attempts during special teams, including one that was easily good from 55 yards out. - Speaking of special teams, expect Deebo Samuel to be heavily involved as a kick returner. It's something he's committed to, according to GM John Lynch. Which means he won't just be doing it here and there. It will be part of his overall role. As for how he fits in the offense, that sounds like it will be determined as time goes on. - One note I forgot to mention yesterday (I think): Chris Foerster said the team intends to work Enrique Cruz Jr. at guard at some point. Hadn't heard that yet but interesting given how Cruz profiles from a size and athleticism standpoint. Carver Willis, likewise, is viewed as a guard and center. He's taken reps at both spots in the past couple of practices.  

- That'll do it for today. 49ers are having a walk through that isn't open tomorrow then back to it with a "high" practice on Monday. 

Spotlight Kid

 The 49ers have placed Ricky Pearsall on season-ending IR and he will have surgery on his PCL, per John Lynch.

Nick's Notes

First padded practice: - Coach Kyle Shanahan came out on the field before team drills today at roughly 10:45 and staying through the end. At one point, he was even watching from next to a big speaker in the end zone. It was the longest he's been on the field during an open practice yet.

- This was the first fully padded practice of camp and, perhaps to no one's surprise, the physicality ramped up. That happened despite Chris Foerster's message in the team meeting about not fighting and protecting one another. - The biggest scuffle came late in practice when LB Fred Warner took exception with TE Jake Tonges seemingly pushing off to get open. Tonges made the catch and though he was flagged for OPI, Warner ran over to him to let him know he didn't like it. OT Colton McKivitz got involved then Dre Greenlaw took him to the ground and the whole team surrounded them. It was broken up soon after but was not what Foerster was hoping to see. - A handful of plays before that, Greenlaw shoved RB Christian McCaffrey to the ground on the sideline with McCaffrey getting up and shoving him. Greenlaw seemed to realize quickly that wasn't a good idea given CMC's importance and did not retaliate so nothing came of it, though it's fair to say that could have still been on the minds of both sides for the rest of that team period. - WR Deebo Samuel was not yet at practice today. He's expected to get everything signed and squared away today and could be out there as soon as Saturday. All signs point toward him being back in his No. 19 with Jacob Cowing switching to No. 6. - No update on WR Ricky Pearsall's knee injury just yet. Foerster said he's still being evaluated. - On the DT front, the Niners activated Alfred Collins (shoulder) from PUP and he took part in a lot of the session though was held back in team, it seemed. C.J. West did not practice, though it's considered a minor issue that has him day to day. - The full list of non participants on Friday: West, Pearsall, WR Christian Kirk (calf), S Malik Mustapha (hamstring), RB Jordan James (rib), OT Vederian Lowe (ankle), DT Gracen Halton (knee bone bruise). OT Trent Williams appeared to get hit in the jaw/throat near the end of practice. Didn't seem serious but will monitor. - Foerster was asked how James broke his rib since team wasn't in pads yet and contact is minimal. Foerster said he believed James was spinning away from a defender and as the defense tried to punch the ball out, it caught him in the wrong way. No timeline yet on James' potential return. - DL Mykel Williams and RB Isaac Guerendo continue to get plenty of work on the side during practice. - On to the good stuff, our first day of one-on-one pass rush drills. As always, the defense is at an advantage here but there was some good and some bad, as you'd expect... DL Keion White was a real standout here. He had multiple clear wins inside and out against the likes of Brandon Parker, Drake Nugent and Nick Zakelj... The best rep of the day might have been for rookie Romello Height, who turned on the speed off the edge against Enrique Cruz, dipped low and quickly faked a spin move before going right under Cruz for a win. It came after his first rep was against Trent Williams in which Williams had little trouble walling him off in a nice welcome to the NFL moment for Height (who is now again wearing 94 after a brief switch to 58)... DT Sebastian Valdez got off to a rocky start here, jumping offsides twice and then struggling against Connor Colby and Brett Toth but he rebounded nicely with good reps against Carver Willis, Nugent and Robert Jones... Toth is a bit bigger than the typical 49ers center and is getting reps at guard. He was mostly solid here... Some good work from Dominick Puni and McKivitz in these as well, with McKivitz handling Cam Sample on one rep... One random note: at the end of this drill, I saw DT Osa Odighizuwa (who also had some good reps) make it a point to dap up every OL he went against. Height seemed to notice and follow suit. A small thing but worth noting. - While those drills were going on, DE Nick Bosa and Williams were working together off to the side. Bosa isn't yet ready for team drills or one on ones but he and Williams always seek each other out for work as Bosa bounces back from ACL surgery. - WR Mike Evans had another solid day, highlighted by his ladder climbing, one-handed grab for a touchdown in the red zone against Upton Stout. Evans lined up in the slot and ran an out route. Thought Stout might pass Evans off to Renardo Green but he stayed in coverage, Purdy recognized it and threw it high where Stout wouldn't have a chance. Evans also connected with Purdy for some big gainers over the middle and on a deep out to the right. Warner had a nice PBU on a would-be big gain for Evans down the middle. - Rookie WR De'Zhaun Stribling continues to produce in team drills, though he was less effective in the small bits of one-on-ones I caught. One thing about Stribling is he finds a way to produce no matter which offense is on the field with him or which defense he's going against. Finding a home for him in the offense shouldn't be hard, it's just a matter of where his snaps will come from. Still feels like the Jauan Jennings big slot role might fit best at least early on. Mac Jones hit Stribling over the middle on a perfect ball he layered just over the top of LB Luke Gifford and in front of oncoming defenders. - QB Brock Purdy was solid again and continues to make good decisions on when to check down and when to push the ball down the field. He did nearly get intercepted trying by S Ji'Ayir Brown when trying to squeeze one into Evans but otherwise was in total command again. Had him at 11-of-15 on the day. - LB Nick Martin looks like he's going to get a real shot to win the SAM LB job and he's flashing a bit in practice to that outcome. He opened this session reading a play and jumping in for a stop on McCaffrey and had another in that same sequence. - Height showed some chops against the run later on, getting off a block to stop RB Sincere McCormick late in the session. - LB Tatum Bethune got a lot of run last year and though he dealt with injury, he's returned to this camp looking quicker and leaner. It showed up a couple times against the run on Friday.

 

He's Back!

 

Free agent WR Deebo Samuel is signing back with the 49ers, sources say. The former Commanders and SF pass-catcher returns where it all began.

1-year, up to $7M in a deal done by Tory Dandy of Athletes First.

Camp Report

 

Nick Wagoner gives a great breakdown on De'Zhaun Stribling’s day at practice and where he sees him lining up:

“Rookie De'Zhaun Stribling was already making a positive first impression and that continued on Wednesday. He’s fast but has a smooth speed that seems to allow him to accelerate and decelerate with little issue. He’s also big enough and unafraid to go over the middle. Had him down for five more catches Wednesday, including a nice job climbing the ladder on a high pass over the middle from Adrian Martinez. It’s hard to say how things will shake out in terms of alignment but Stribling is working all three spots right now. My early guess: If Pearsall misses time, they’d like to go with Kirk or Demarcus Robinson at 'Z' and let Stribling handle the 'Y.'”

Niners are expected to have their first practice in full pads on Friday according to

Wagoner.

Caught In The Middle

 

Back To The Bay?

 

Adam Schefter is reporting that Vita Vea has requested a trade from the Bucs. From a source: he wants to go to a California team (Vea attended high school 6 miles from Levi's Stadium) or the Raiders. Should Lynch make the move and what would it cost?