49ers training camp: Reed shines as team has dress rehearsal inside Levi’s Stadium

The 49ers on Friday used one of their last practices of training camp to have a dress rehearsal inside Levi’s Stadium to simulate Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals after a walkthrough Thursday. It was a spirited session in which the defense mostly outplayed the offense, yet the biggest takeaway might have been who wasn’t on the field due to injury issues.

Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was without two of his top receivers, Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, All-Pro tight end George Kittle and Pro Bowl fullback Kyle Juszczyk. The defense was missing pass rushers Nick Bosa and Dee Ford, who have both missed most of the last week, while linebacker Fred Warner had a light workload because he’s taken plenty of practice reps already.

Kittle left Wednesday’s session late because of hamstring tightness and watched Friday’s practice from the sideline in a sweatsuit alongside last season’s No. 2 tight end Ross Dwelley, who continues to work back from a foot injury. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said afterwards there’s nothing new to report on Kittle’s injury after testing. It’s simple tightness and he isn’t expected to miss the Sept. 13 opener, barring a setback.

“He’s good with all the testing,” Shanahan said. “There’s nothing pulled or strained. Just tightness. The way George moves and the way he goes, he only knows one way, so when he’s tight we’re going to protect him from himself and wait until he’s not tight.”

The skill players flanking Garoppolo on the first offensive snap of team drills: receivers Kendrick Bourne and Dante Pettis, running back Raheem Mostert, rookie tight end Charlie Woerner and undrafted fullback Josh Hokit. None of which started in the Super Bowl, though the team did score a touchdown on a 19-yard run from Mostert that was schemed up well by Shanahan and run game coordinator Mike McDaniel.

The ailments to starters allowed newcomer, tight end Jordan Reed, to have his most impactful practice to date, which included a five-yard touchdown grab on a quick pass in between Richard Sherman and Jaquiski Tartt from Garoppolo.

Reed received some of his work with the second team, where he was a clear standout among his peers. That is, it was evident he was the only former Pro Bowler catching passes from C.J. Beathard and Nick Mullens.

49ers defensive line shows off depth

The defensive line had a strong day even without Bosa and Ford. Solomon Thomas continued his strong camp with at least two would-be sacks in teams drills. Shanahan mentioned after practice that Thomas is looking rejuvenated now that he’s been moved to defensive tackle full time after spending his first three seasons switching between the outside and inside.

“He had a heck of an offseason putting on some weight, put on some real good weight” Shanahan said. “It showed in the run and pass game throughout this whole camp. What people have been saying about him is true. I’m real happy for him because he’s earning it and deserves it.”

Arik Armstead, Kerry Hyder and Kevin Givens also had standout performances. Undrafted rookie nose tackle Darrion Daniels had one of the flashiest plays for the defense when he knifed into the backfield to thump Tevin Coleman for a three-year loss soon after he received the hand off.

Shanahan gets mad

The first team offense struggled after the opening possession. At one point, Shanahan kicked the offense off the field when Daniel Brunskill’s snap sailed over Garoppolo’s head for a would-be safety. The coaches could be heard by reporters sitting in the lower bowl near the 50-yard line quite easily. And what Shanahan said isn’t suitable for print, but did provide some laughs.

“There’s really never a practice I’m not frustrated out there,” Shanahan said. “It’s probably the same way I look in games most of the time too. The way I focus, I kind of get irritated at everything. I’m mad when every play doesn’t work.”

Shanahan eluded to the fact there’s something to get mad about on every play during practice given he’s the head coach. As the offensive coordinator, he’s the happiest when the offense rips off a big play or a touchdown. But that also means something went wrong on defense.

“I think guys get used to that out there,” he said. “I think people used to take it like, ‘what’s wrong with coach?’ But I think now they kind of now how I am.”

Sidelines erupt

Cornerback Jason Verrett made two good plays near the end of practice going against the second string offense. First, he had good coverage on a deep pass to new receiver River Cracraft, who was signed on Thursday. Verrett ended the session with a physical breakup on a throw to Reed over the middle on a third down, which led to the defense erupting from the east sideline, where the visitors are during games.

The play that garnered the loudest reaction from the offensive side came moments earlier when undrafted running back JaMycal Hasty put a nasty juke on a safety in the open field leaving him flat footed. Hasty has had a strong camp and has shown he could provide value as a pass catcher, which might put him in the conversation for a roster spot. He’s been competing with Jeff Wilson Jr. and already outlasted out fellow undrafted free agent Salvon Ahmed, who was recently released and picked up by the Dolphins.

Odds and ends

▪ Kicker Robbie Gould hit four of his five field goal attempts, all 43 yards or longer. Three were piped right down the middle, one was hit low but snuck through, and another was pulled left.

▪ Pettis was the first and only punt returner used during Friday’s practice, which could indicate he’s the favorite to land that role after excelling there in college. However, Pettis muffed one of his attempts midway through the session. There were no reps for Trent Taylor or Tavon Austin. Running back Jerick McKinnon and slot cornerback Jamar Taylor worked as the kickoff returners.

▪ Speaking of Austin, he hauled in a long touchdown pass from Beathard up the right sideline on a coverage mishap from safety Marcell Harris and cornerback Tim Harris.

▪ Rookie seventh-round pick, receiver Jauan Jennings, had a rough practice that included dropping a would-be first down pass on a third and long and later letting a ball hit off his hands that was intercepted by reserve defensive back Jared Mayden.

▪ Backup linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles had another big hit on a running play and could be a sleeper for a roster spot at inside linebacker. The converted safety has been given a slew of reps at middle linebacker where he calls out the defense. That’s a strong indication he’s earned trust from the coaching staff. He’s competing with Azeez Al-Shaair, veteran Joe Walker and Mark Nzeocha for a backup role.

Al-Shaair momentarily left practice with an upper body injury but was back soon after. He received more work than usual while Warner was given a lighter day.

▪ Coleman spoke to reporters after practice and mentioned he came close to deciding to opt out for the season due to COVID-19 concerns. Coleman has sickle cell trait and has remained away from his family, which stayed in Atlanta while he lives alone in the Bay Area.

Coleman also said he had surgery in the offseason to repair the dislocated shoulder he sustained in January’s NFC title game. He played through the injury in the Super Bowl.

▪ Levi’s Stadium’s scoreboard and digital ribbons around the facility all had banners that read “Black Lives Matter.” The 49ers have not formally protested social injustices and racial discrimination issues as other team’s have, though they have hinted at planning a demonstration for the regular season.

Shanahan spoke at length about the issues and the team’s stance on Thursday.

This story was originally published August 28, 2020 at 3:32 PM.