Notes and observations from 49ers practice #10

- RB Christian McCaffrey was the only addition to the not practicing report Monday with what the team called "tightness." Understandably, lots of eyes will be on that situation. OC Klay Kubiak says the team is "just managing" McCaffrey with an eye toward having him ready for Week 1 against the Rams. We'll see if he's in the mix for a joint practice tomorrow but (my take) seems more likely they'd hold him out so he can get this week to rid himself of that tightness. He'd be unlikely to play Thursday night anyway. - Coach Kyle Shanahan was out there for essentially the entire practice as he continues his road back to full strength. - One notable thing from before practice: TE George Kittle did the most extensive side work we've been able to see so far in this camp. He was running routes, catching passes and doing some conditioning. Seems to be moving quite well as he bounces back from Achilles injury. - The full list of those missing practice today: McCaffrey, LB Luke Gifford (hamstring), DE Nick Bosa (soreness), 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: Kittle (achilles), RB Isaac Guerendo (pec), DL Mykel Williams (ACL) - Almost all of those guys did at least some level of work on the side during practice. That included Evans, of course, but this is first time I've seen White and Black doing stuff since their adductor injuries. - OL Carver Willis is back from his concussion. He jumped right in with the 2s at LG with Connor Colby on the right side. Robert Jones continues to rep with the 1s at LG. Kubiak says the competition for the starting LG spot is still open. - A roster move: Team released OL Nick Zakelj. They signed OL Doug Kramer Jr. - A number change: WR Will Pauling switched from No. 4 to No. 84. He and QB Adrian Martinez were both in 4 but changed presumably because they need to have different numbers for the preseason game when they might be on the field at the same time. - Some pretty good battles in one-on-one pass rush drills today. Not a lot of convincing wins on either side, which means it was pretty good work. Among the standouts: Colton McKivitz doing well against Sam Okauyinonu followed by a good battle with Romello Height in which McKivitz seemed to have him stopped but Height spun out of it for a late pressure... It's been a rough camp for Enrique Cruz Jr. but he had a nice recovery on an outside rush from Ogbo Okoronkwo, though K.J. Henry later beat him cleanly... C.J. West had a good rep early against C Jake Brendel though he and Brendel later had another good battle... In one sequence, Willis took back to back reps, one at C and one at LG. He was beat clean at center by West then moved to guard and did very well against Osa Odighizuwa. Suffice to say, Willis a work in progress at C and looks more comfortable at G, as you'd expect... The Niners worked TE Luke Farrell in a bit here, isolating him against DEs Titus Leo and Quinton Bell. Leo and Bell got the better of him, though Farrell put up a fight in both. - Another solid day with some big plays for QB Brock Purdy and the offense. I had Purdy at 10-of-13 (would-be sacks and some penalties nullified a few throws to my eye). He hit rookie WR De'Zhaun Stribling on a perfect deep corner for a huge gain and later found WR Demarcus Robinson for another big play/would-be TD. Purdy also hit Deebo over the middle for what would have been a big gainer. - One of those stops on Purdy I had as a would-be sack for LB Fred Warner. Purdy scrambled away from pressure but Warner came up and made the play. Warner also had a big thud on WR Junior Bergen after he caught a short pass. - With their projected top four RBs not practicing, there was plenty of work for the others on the roster today, perhaps most notably Khalil Herbert. Wouldn't be surprised if Herbert gets plenty of work on Thursday night along with Patrick Taylor Jr. and Sincere McCormick. - CB Jack Jones had another interception, this time jumping in front of a throw from Martinez for WR Jordan Watkins. - A couple of drops Monday as Samuel had a Purdy pass go through his hands and bounce off his chest and McCormick failed to haul in another throw from Purdy. - LB Nick Martin had a nice run stuff while playing on the LOS and DT Sebastian Valdez had a would-be sack. - A relatively light session though with plenty of team periods and some competitive move the ball and red zone sessions. Things will pick up a bit more tomorrow when the Titans come to town for a joint practice.