Nick's Notes #8

- Once again, coach Kyle Shanahan was on the field for almost all of practice and keeps getting more involved each day. As QB Mac Jones noted after the session, Shanahan is "inching closer" to his usual spot on the field. That's an indication he's also inching closer to being back to full duty. - The Niners had their Dwight Clark celebration Thursday. That's usually reserved for August 7 in honor of Clark's jersey number but with only a walk through tomorrow, they had it today. Former Niners TE Brent Jones was in attendance and spoke to guests about Clark's legacy. - On the injury front, the only new addition to the list from yesterday was OL Nick Zakelj, who injured his elbow in practice Wednesday. The full list of those missing practice today: Zakelj, DE Nick Bosa (soreness), OL Carver Willis (concussion), WR Jacob Cowing (hip flexor strain), FB Kyle Juszczyk (broken finger), OL Brett Toth (concussion), WR Christian Kirk (calf), WR Mike Evans (quad), S Malik Mustapha (hamstring), RB Kaelon Black (adductor), RB Jordan James (rib), DL Keion White (adductor), OT Vederian Lowe (ankle) Players on PUP: TE George Kittle (achilles), RB Isaac Guerendo (pec), DL Mykel Williams (ACL) - LB Dre Greenlaw (soreness), WR De'Zhaun Stribling (hamstring) and DT Osa Odighizuwa (soreness) were in pads and easing back in today. They did some individual but not much in team periods (Osa did a little it seemed). Saw Stribling doing some running at or near full speed during team drills. Greenlaw was again watching from behind the defense during team. - DE Sam Okuayinonu was back and participating after he was shaken up late in practice yesterday. - Many of the Niners on the injured list were doing full workouts and conditioning on the side. Evans was doing some running and Guerendo continues to look like he's close to a return from PUP. - One roster move given the injuries on the interior OL: The Niners signed OL Kion Smith and waived WR Colton Dowell. - Rookie DT Gracen Halton continues to make a strong first impression. The guy has a lot of juice with a quick first step and short-area burst paired with some powerful hands that seem to catch OL off guard. He had impressive 1v1 wins against Robert Jones, Connor Colby and Jake Brendel. And then made some plays in team periods also. Halton also isn't afraid to express his passion, often letting out a yell after making a play or winning a 1v1 rep. Fresh legs help but this is also what he flashed at Oklahoma. It's early and he needs to do it against someone else but it's not hard to envision a role for him on third downs early as a rookie. - Other notes from 1 on 1s today: RT Colton McKivitz just continues to be rock solid in his spot. Did well against Romello Height on a pair of matchups... Same for Dom Puni, who Chris Foerster clearly thinks has the makings of a guy ready to take another step forward in year 3... Austen Pleasants had a good rep against Okuayinonu when Okuayinonu seemed to have him beat with a spin but Pleasants recovered and walled him off... CJ West showed off his powerful hands and ability to re-direct them in a good rep against Colby... Rookie Enrique Cruz Jr. has had some rough reps in these, including one against Igbo Okoronkwo today. After, Foerster spent some time with Cruz giving him some pointers... Still intrigued to see undrafted DT James Thompson Jr. against another team. There's some tools to develop there in the rookie out of Illinois. - For the second day in a row, the story of team drills was QB Brock Purdy and the top offense. They had the rough outing earlier in the week and have responded with a pair of excellent practices. Purdy was 13-of-14 on Wednesday and 11-of-14 today. That included three of his best throws of camp: deep balls perfectly placed for likely TDs to WRs KhaDarel Hodge and Malik Turner and then a crosser to WR Deebo Samuel who had Deommodore Lenoir in excellent position in coverage but the ball was in the one small window where Samuel could get it. The first play of team was a rope to Demarcus Robinson for a big gain, too. Credit to Purdy and Co. for the bounce back. I asked DC Raheem Morris what he's observed about Purdy being up close with him for more than a week now. His answer: "The Layer King has some really intensive intensity and I like that about him," Morris said. "Today he got fired up, which was cool, which was fun, which is competitive. And I love that. And when he does those things, it just makes the team go." - CB Jack Jones finds a way to make a play in practice nearly every day and did so again today. He jumped in front of a crosser from Mac Jones for Jordan Watkins for an interception. It wasn't an easy one, either, as Jones tapped it to himself with his right hand then hauled it in. - Another day with the 1s at LG for Robert Jones, who is going to get a good look there it seems. Connor Colby ran with the 2s and 3s again, including on the right side. And Pleasants got some more work at guard, too. My early read: The Niners are going to have to keep looking for the best option for LG. Not sure that person is on the roster, though the concussion for Carver Willis is unfortunate because he might have been able to force his way into the conversation. - WR Demarcus Robinson continues to quietly have a nice camp. Said it before but a dependable wideout who has the versatility to play any position usually finds his way on to the roster. - Some pressures/potential would-be sacks today in team from Height, Okuayinonu, Odighizuwa. Run stuffs from Halton, West, Height, Thompson and Jaden Dugger, among others. - S Ji'Ayir Brown forced a fumble by TE Luke Farrell after a completion from Purdy with CB Renardo Green scooping it up and returning it. LB Luke Gifford nearly intercepted Jones on a throw for Deebo. Lenoir was in tight coverage to force one of Purdy's incompletions and Purdy's final pass of team for Farrell was a bit long though it seemed Farrell got his hands on it and had a chance to make the play. - Dugger got some work with the top defense today as the Niners continue to find ways to deploy him. Morris explained the "fever backer" position in his defense and what he wants and it sounds like something a guy with Dugger's versatility could fit. That's also true for Height and Nick Martin. As preseason goes on, that should clarify a bit how often the position is used and who they envision handling it the most. - Haven't seen or heard much from Nate Hobbs in this camp. He's been out there but hasn't been super involved in team of late. Perhaps still working his way back to football shape but others asserting themselves in the DB competition in the meantime. - Rookie CB Ephesians Prysock is stringing some good practices together. Looking forward to seeing him against another team. Sounds like Morris is, too. - Niners have walkthrough tomorrow and then a full practice Saturday before a Sunday off. Soon enough, we'll be to next week and joint practices with the Titans.