49ers training camp: Top 5 roster hopefuls opening eyes in practice
SANTA CLARA – Training camp is not meant to discover Brandon Aiyuk, Christian McCaffrey or, apparently Nick Bosa, who has extended his contract-related boycott to 10 days.
Roster hopefuls abound for the precious few spots that may (or may not) be available on a Super Bowl-seeking unit.
Here are five up-and-comers who’ve helped their respective case through seven practices:
RB Ty Davis-Price
From John Lynch running into him in the weight room at 5 a.m. to Frank Gore celebrating one of his training camp runs, Davis-Price is drawing a fan club with his sense of urgency after a defunct rookie year. He’s refined his physique (less fat, more muscle). But temper any praise for him and any running backs until they show their stuff in preseason games (and next week’s practices at the Raiders’ facility). With Elijah Mitchell (thigh) out for a week or two, that means more opportunities for Davis-Price and Jordan Mason as potential understudies to Christian McCaffrey.
TE Brayden Willis
This seventh-round rookie has been a popular target and seemingly sure-handed athlete, although Sam Darnold’s final throw Thursday failed to land in Willis’ hands for a touchdown. Third-round pick Cameron Latu put a nice stiffarm on a defensive back in the opening practice but has been relatively quiet. One cool scene: Kittle coached up Willis while Christian McCaffrey talked separately with Latu on the sideline during Thursday’s practice.
CB D’Shawn Jamison
When star receiver Brandon Aiyuk sings your praises a week into camp, you’re definitely on everyone’s radar, which is an encouraging sign for Jamison, an undrafted rookie out of Texas. The only interceptions through six practices came from safety Tashaun Gipson and linebackers Dre Greenlaw and Dee Winters, so it’s not as if Ambry Thomas, Sam Womack or the other cornerbacks are definitively securing their backup roles.
LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball
Sure, he dropped a Brock Purdy pass Tuesday, but he finished that practice by preventing a Sam Darnold touchdown pass to Ty Davis-Price. Solid pass coverage could help his bid at strong-side linebacker. When Thursday’s practice rolled around, McCrary-Ball was there for a backfield tackle on an early down, while the 49ers rested Dre Greenlaw. McCrary-Ball was a practice-squad sponge last year shadowing Fred Warner.
Rookies Dee Winters (interception Thursday) and Jalen Graham also are opening eyes, and young linebackers’ best shot at roster ultimately rests with their special teams ability.
“They’re all special teams guys and I love it when they’re that competitive because it’s really exciting for me,” special teams coordinator Brian Schneider said, “because there are a lot of really good players there and so we get the chance to train everybody.”
K Jake Moody
Kicking with a bay breeze at your back and nailing a 60-yard field goal makes for a splendid summer day. The pressure will ramp up throughout his rookie year (think: his predecessor Robbie Gould’s playoff winner in the Lambeau snow). All that said, Moody has been near-perfect, showing no immaturity. Rotating with veteran Zane Gonzalez also can keep his leg fresh, something that Doug Brien wasn’t afforded as he labored through his 1994 rookie year en route to the 49ers’ last Lombardi Trophy.