49ers training camp: Mitchell is out, but Kinlaw is flourishing and Shanahan is done worrying about Purdy
SANTA CLARA — The 49ers’ quest for a relatively free training camp has mostly been met with good news.
Brock Purdy is throwing the ball well enough that coach Kyle Shanahan has ceased to even worry about his surgically repaired throwing elbow.
“That’s completely off my mind,” Shanahan said Thursday following a relatively brief 49ers practice. “He’s healed. He’s healthy. Guys have to get in throwing shape and they have to play and get used to that, but I’m not thinking about the injury anymore.”
Two players with extensive injury histories came back from the off day with different outcomes. Running back Elijah Mitchell is out a week or more with a thigh strain, but defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw continued an encouraging trend by participating in his seventh straight practice with no restrictions.
Mitchell, limited to four games and 45 carries for 279 yards a year ago with two MCL strains, also missed five games during a rookie season in which he set the franchise rookie record for rushing with 963 yards.
Over 16 games in his career, which amounts to one game shy of a full NFL season, Mitchell has 1,242 yards rushing and a 4.9 average in large part because of a second-effort style which may or may not set him up for unnecessary blows.
Running backs coach Bobby Turner said he has talked with Mitchell about protecting himself whenever possible, but conceded that’s not in his nature as a runner. Shanahan said the most recent injury isn’t related to taking punishment, and last year’s MCL strains came when he was hit on the knee with his foot planted in the ground.
“You can’t change your style — that’s what makes him great — but I don’t think that’s what gets him hurt, either,” Shanahan said. “I hope we can find the secret ingredient as we go.”
Mitchell’s injury gives second-year backs Jordan Mason and Ty Davis-Price a handful of practices to insert themselves into the picture, and both have a much better grasp of the offense than they did a year ago.
“They’ve grown so much, they’ve matured so much,” fullback Kyle Juszczyk said. “In this offense, it means a lot to have a year under your belt. You let it soak in, and then you start up you’re not starting from square one. You can see they’re playing faster and more confident.”
Kinlaw had an ACL knee reconstruction in 2021 and has never been healthy enough to display the talent that made him the 14th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft as the man who would step in when DeForest Buckner was traded to Indianapolis.
For the first time, Kinlaw has had an entire offseason without missing time. Defensive line coach Kris Kocurek said that Kinlaw’s performance to date has been one of the most gratifying things she’s seen since he came to the 49ers in 2018.
“Every year you’re hoping, and every year it’s just heartbreaking,” Shanahan said. “This is the first time he’s gone from February up to now with no setbacks. You’re really pulling for the kid.”
Players who missed practice because of injuries included tackle Jaylon Moore (knee bruise), left guard Aaron Banks (concussion protocol) and guard/center Jon Feliciano (shoulder strain).
Moore, Shanahan said, could miss a week but was walking without a limp two days after being helped from the field during practice.
Training camp lite
Think the 49ers might get after it on the practice field following an off day? Guess again. Players including Christian McCaffrey, Trent Williams and Dre Greenlaw sat it out, while George Kittle went through drills and did not participate during team sessions.
Instead, the 49ers had a lighter day with fewer practice reps and will go at a higher intensity tomorrow.
The days of testing manhood during training camp are long gone with research showing ramping up to contact keeps more players healthy.
“What I love is it’s driven by analytics,” Juszczyk said. “On the surface you think, ‘You had a break yesterday, so let’s get after it today.’ But what they’re finding is that’s when most injuries happen. We’re trying to be smart out here. We’re trying to train our bodies in the correct way. Our commitment to that has been pretty awesome.”
Winters makes his move
Sixth-round draft pick Dee Winters, a 5-foot-11, 227-pound linebacker out of TCU who was known for making big plays in college, came up with one Thursday on an interception of Trey Lance on a pass intended for Tay Martin.
On draft day, general manager John Lynch said linebackers coach Johnny Holland compared Winters’ skill set to that of Greenlaw. Holland didn’t back down from that statement when talking to reporters Wednesday.
“He can strike with explosion and get off blocks and that’s the biggest asset of Dre Greenlaw,” Holland said. “I think he has some of those characteristics. he can close, get on people quick, wrap them up and get them down.”
Kareem dropped by 49ers camp and shared an inspiring message with the squad
— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) August 2, 2023
Quick hits
— D’Shawn Jamison, an undrafted rookie cornerback from Texas, has made a good first impression defensively and was also in the mix Thursday running back kickoffs.
“He’s scrappy in coverage,” cornerback Charvrius “Mooney” Ward said. “He’s patient in his backpedal. I was very impressed with that. He’s playing really good right now.”
— After playing in 12 games and starting five as a rookie out of Michigan in 2021, cornerback Ambry Thomas was a forgotten man last year, falling way behind Deommodore Lenoir and others.
“I think he was a little on the outside looking in last year,” Shanahan said. “This year, you watch on the field, you can see his urgency and preparation are so much better.”
— Cornerback Terrance Mitchell was placed on injured reserve with an undisclosed injury and cornerback Anthony Averitt was signed to a one-year contract. Averitt played in seven games with six starts for the Raiders last season.
— Right guard Spencer Burford says he’s down about eight pounds from his rookie year and believes he is quicker and leaner. A starter who split time with Daniel Brunskill a year ago, Burford is also adjusting to a new right tackle as Colton McKivitz replaces Mike McGlinchey.
“Me and Colton, we’re flowing like water,” Burford said. “We’re feeding off each other, talking tendencies, what he likes to do, what I like to do. Basically just building a chemistry right now. Everything has been pretty smooth.”
— After the media departed Tuesday’s practice for the interview room, the 49ers were treated to a visit and short speech from all-time NBA great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The visit was arranged by consultant Dr. Harry Edwards.
“So cool to see him out there,” Shanahan said. “You get some legends around sometimes, but Kareem is a legend of legends. The players thought it was pretty cool.”
— The NFL Network’s annual list of the top 100 players (as voted by players) is down to the final 10, with Nick Bosa expected to be the eighth 49er to be so honored.
The 49ers who have already been named are Williams (14), linebacker Fred Warner (15), Kittle (19), McCaffrey (35), Deebo Samuel (61), Talanoa Hufanga (78) and Greenlaw (79).