49ers camp: Deebo Samuel just one of many new sights in practice

SANTA CLARA — Deebo Samuel put on his No. 19, red jersey for the first time at training camp, and all seemed right in the 49ers’ orbit.

It was one of several new sights at camp that were glaring — and encouraging.

The 49ers’ first and foremost order of business this camp was to sign their All-Pro wide receiver to a contract extension, and he signed a three-year pact Monday morning.

Samuel then joined his teammates in practice, after spending the previous four sessions running on the side. He didn’t line up for first-team reps, but rather than dare call it a demotion, catching passes from backup Nate Sudfeld illustrated how the 49ers plan to ease Samuel into camp.

“Every time he touches the ball, you watch how he finishes a play,” left tackle Trent Williams said. “If there’s any crease, he’s going to exploit it. You watch what he does receiving-wise, rushing-wise …

“The sparkplug that he is for the team, you see us coming out of the locker room. That’s not just for show,” Wiliams added. “That’s how we are in the locker room. You go in there now and that boom box is probably right next to his locker. He’s that type of person and why he’s important to this organization and why we have to have him.”

In warmups, Samuel joked around with coach Kyle Shanahan, and that was very reminiscent of their friendly rapport from past seasons. That bond had Shanahan convinced he would not lose his star receiver after smoke signals of discontent earlier this offseason.

Samuel took part in all the offense’s warmup drills, failed to connect on a pair of 1-on-1 passes from Trey Lance into the end zone, then caught two passes from backup Nate Sudfeld in full-team drills. An hour into practice, Deommodore Lenoir stopped Samuel for no yards after his first catch — a rare sight in Samuel’s ascending career — then Sudfeld found Samuel again to cap his stat line.

OFFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS

The offense continued its clunky start to camp but it finally produced touchdowns, the first coming on a 15-yard run up the middle by Lance, who then used his arm to rifle a scoring strike to Brandon Aiyuk inside the goal line against Charvarius Ward’s tight coverage.

Ward avenged that play a few snaps later when he cut in front of intended target Kyle Juszczyk to intercept a Lance pass at the 3-yard line.

Lance finished 5-of-11, and his other touchdown pass came thanks to George Kittle’s second effort to lunge for the front pylon with safety Tarvarius Moore in coverage.

Lance’s best pass of the day didn’t go for a score but it did hit Brandon Aiyuk about 40 yards downfield against Emmanuel Moseley’s coverage.

WILLIAMS-BOSA DYNAMIC

Watching Nick Bosa line up against left tackle Trent Williams is pay-per-view worthy, both in on-field combat and when they chat off to the side.

They only matched up on a couple of pass plays Monday, one of which Williams kept Bosa on the perimeter while Lance slid up in the pocket and found Aiyuk for the aforementioned touchdown. Bosa, otherwise, lined up at left defensive end and pestered right tackles Mike McGlinchey and Jaylon Moore.

An even cooler sight came later in practice. Bosa and Williams talked with each other for a couple snaps and shared technique tips.

“To me, it’s a double-edged sword,” Williams said. “If Bosa asks a question, he wants to know more about something. The ‘competitive me’ is hesitant to give him some of my secret moves. At the end of the day, we’re here to make each other better. And he’s the same. We’re very transparent and it’s been that day since I walked in the door.”

Bosa, after spending the offseason in his native Fort Lauderdale, showed up in his typical pristine shape. “Have you seen him? It’s like somebody literally etched him like a sculpture,” Williams added.

Although fellow 2019 draft product Samuel got paid, Bosa’s extension isn’t expected to come until next offseason. General manager John Lynch alluded to that last week when he said company protocol is not to award new contracts when two years remain on them; the 49ers already exercised Bosa’s fifth-year option for 2023.

NOTES

— Defensive end Drake Jackson saw first-team reps for perhaps the first time this camp, and he worked through an attempted block by Ross Dwelley for back-side pressure on an eventual Lance incompletion.

— Jake Brendel got the first snaps at center but continues to rotate there with Daniel Brunskill, whose spot at right guard is being filled (for now) by rookie Spencer Burford. Regardless who’s playing on the line (other than Williams), the pocket has routinely collapsed this camp. When left guard Aaron Banks struggled on one pass block, Williams shared some advice with him in what appeared a calm tone.

— Running back Jeff Wilson Jr. did individual conditioning but is expected to resume practicing Tuesday.

— Maurice Hurst (biceps) went on injured reserve and was replaced on the roster by fellow defensive tackle Akeem Spence.