SANTA CLARA — An hour practice Monday kicked off the 49ers’ Week 1 activities after a three-day holiday weekend. Here are 10 observations:
1. STILL NO NICK
Defensive end Nick Bosa did not magically appear at practice only six days before the season opener at Pittsburgh. His teammates aren’t commenting on his contract push, and they’re simply hoping it’ll resolve soon.
“We’d love to have Bosa, obviously. That’s a no-brainer. Best defensive player in the NFL and it shows,” safety Talanoa Hufanga said. “We just have to prepare as if he’s not going to be here. That’s an upper-echelon, front-office question, so, I don’t know if I can answer more on that. … When Bosa gets here with that No. 97 on, it’ll be nice.”
Added Tashaun Gipson Sr.: “Being an older guy and understanding the business side of it, when you have these opportunities, you have to do what’s best for yourself and your family. Obviously having a guy like Nick with us on the field is huge. I mean, he’s the best defensive player in the league and one of the best players in the league.”
Bosa is expected to land the NFL’s largest contract ever for a non-quarterback, worth more than $32 million annually. He skipped training camp and all three preseason games, subjecting him to $4 million in fines that the 49ers are not expected to enforce.
“Nick’s situation is a little bit different because he’s one of the best players that we have in this league,” defensive end Clelin Ferrell said. “But guys have been on teams where the business side has mixed with the playing side. … It’s really just focusing on what you can control and the guys in the room right now. And when Nick comes back, we’re going to be excited to have him.”
2. PURDY DONE DE-LOADING
Quarterback Brock Purdy appeared fine and returned to his practice routine after last week’s “de-loading,” in which the 49ers wanted to cut his throws from 700 to 350 last week to freshen up his surgically repaired elbow.
“I like the way he’s approached the injury, from everything I’ve seen and heard, how he was in day-in-day-out just to get ready and just to be the guy we need him to be going into the season,” wide receiver Deebo Samuel said.
3. GEORGE KITTLE ON SIDE
Tight end George Kittle did individual conditioning under the watchful eye of the 49ers’ medical staff rather than participate in practice. He’s missed most of the past month with a groin issue. He’s looked fine in terms of running straight ahead on the side, and he put on his helmet to do more work near a blocking sled. Kittle missed the first two games last season with a groin injury.
#49ers Week 1 practices underway
No Bosa
QB Brock Purdy done de-loading ✅
George Kittle works on side as are Tashaun Gipson, Oren Burks, Jordan Mason, Danny Gray (IR)
LB Dre Greenlaw, S Talanoa Hufanga back in practice
Matthew Wright & Jake Moody (not in uni) both kicking pic.twitter.com/KB1YkjOAjH
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) September 4, 2023
4. TWO KICKERS
Rookie Jake Moody kicked on a side field and did so without any visible hindrance from a right quadriceps strain, which acted up two weeks ago. Moody was not in uniform Monday, unlike Matthew Wright, who was kicking next to him after officially signing to the practice squad.
Moody said he’s easing back into action like he has after past bouts with leg soreness, thus avoiding: “Nothing crazy. Not hitting 70-yard field goals to blow my leg out.”
Before being drafted in the third round out of Michigan, Moody went through a “rough” stretch that included private workouts with seven teams, all of whom sought out extensive kicks, including the 49ers. “You don’t get much time to rest. That might have contributed to it,” Moody said. “But you just have to deal with it. I have no other choice but to kick. I can’t just sit out a year.”
5. GREENLAW, HUF RETURN
Linebacker Dre Greenlaw (hamstring) and safety Talanoa Hufanga (knee) suited up and returned to practice after dealing with injuries over the past few weeks. One starter who remains out, other than Bosa, is strong safety Tashaun Gipson Sr., who continues to run on the side with an unknown ailment; rookie Ji’Ayir Brown could be in line to start if Gipson does not.
Gipson didn’t specify what he’s working though, other than to say: “Just part of training camp. I am a young-old guy now. But, no, I feel good. … Father Time is undefeated; I’m giving him a good fight right now, though.”
6. DEFENSIVE LINE LOOK
Nothing looks radically different on the defensive line rotation, simply because Bosa has yet to report other than a one-day minicamp cameo since winning NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors. If there’s no Bosa, the expectation is that Drake Jackson and Clelin Ferrell would start at defensive end, with Kerry Hyder Jr. and Austin Bryant in reserve.
“We have tremendous people in our room,” Jackson said. “With or without Bosa, I feel we’ll do well. We’ll miss him if he’s not there. Our D, we’ve got a bunch of dogs. I wouldn’t say we have ones or twos or threes. Everybody could be a one. It just depends on who starts the game.”
7. PUNT RETURN OPTIONS
Ray-Ray McCloud has not officially practiced since last month’s wrist surgery, though he did enter the locker room as if he worked out on his own and without a cast. If McCloud is not ready, rookie Ronnie Bell likely would serve as the season-opening punt returner. Brandon Aiyuk is experienced at that chore, but he hasn’t been seen much if at all in practices this year, since blossoming into a 1,000-yard, No. 1 receiver.
As for others battling injuries, running on the side were linebacker Oren Burks (knee), running back Jordan Mason (foot) and wide receiver Danny Gray (Injured Reserve; shoulder).
8. IMMEDIATE IMPACT
The 49ers are 2-4 under Kyle Shanahan in season openers. One way he is preaching urgency out of the gate is by emphasizing details and how that could lead to a first-round playoff goal.
“Kyle kind of mentioned how last year, if we win one of those two games against the Broncos (Week 3 loss) or the Bears (Week 1 loss), we have a first-round bye,” Samuel said. “I can go back to 2019, that first-round bye is everything, to give everybody’s body and mind an extra week to prepare for a game.”
That 2019 team started 8-0, secured the NFC’s No. 1 seed, easily won two playoff games at Levi’s Stadium and reached the Super Bowl, where it lost to the Kansas City Chiefs.
9. OFFENSIVE LINE INTACT
This goes under the radar but it’s worth noting that the 49ers’ offensive line chemistry should be enhanced this year. Left tackle Trent Williams is the unit’s lynchpin, and working regularly to his right all offseason have been Aaron Banks, Jake Brendel, Spencer Burford and Colton McKivitz, the latter of whom has taken all first-team reps at right tackle since Mike McGlinchey’s free agency exit.
10. UNIFORM NUMBERS
Moody appears to have claimed the No. 4 jersey after sharing it in the preseason with third-string quarterback Brandon Allen, who’s now practicing in No. 17. Also, practice-squad defensive back Quantrezz Knight is wearing No. 9, which is what tight end Brayden Willis continues to wear.
Source: www.mercurynews.com