49ers camp: Does Brock Purdy’s milestone shelve him for Saturday game?
SANTA CLARA — Wide receiver Jauan Jennings knew exactly how to describe Brock Purdy after a milestone in the quarterback’s comeback from elbow surgery.
“Brock-star. We love him out there,” Jennings said Thursday.
Purdy was out there practicing three consecutive days this week for the first time since his March 10 surgery, keeping him firmly on track to start the 49ers’ regular-season opener Sept. 10 at the Pittsburgh Steelers.
When it comes to preseason football, however, the 49ers love Purdy out of danger and over on the sideline. He’s not expected to play in Saturday’s preseason game against the Denver Broncos at Levi’s Stadium, after he and every other would-be starter sat out Sunday’s 34-7 loss at the Las Vegas Raiders.
Sam Darnold could get the start if coach Kyle Shanahan opts not to give Trey Lance a mulligan after his shaky outing against the Raiders.
Purdy certainly got the most work in Thursday’s brisk practice. He took all 26 first-team reps, leaving 11 for Darnold and just five for Lance.
“I checked up on Brock now and then during his recovery, and it’s been going great. That’s all I kept hearing,” Jennings said. “To see Brock come out there (at the start of camp), it meant a lot.”
Jennings made sure to commend the 49ers’ other quarterbacks and how they’ve all made great throws in camp. That wasn’t necessarily the case Thursday: Darnold was 1-of-7 and hurt by two Cameron Latu drops; Lance was 3-of-3; Brandon Allen did not take a full-team rep as he rejoined the team after attending the birth of his second son in Florida.
Hounded by a near-daily interception in camp, Purdy came away with a clean sheet Thursday, once nickel back Isaiah Oliver undercut a route and failed to snag a pass intended for Brandon Aiyuk.
Purdy’s best throws: to Deebo Samuel at the 1-yard line, where he got aggressively pushed out of bounds and into the grass by Ambry Thomas; to Ross Dwelley for a touchdown in a red-zone drill, without it being deflected off a cornerback (see: Dwelley’s score against the Raiders); to Chris Conley in a two-minute drill.
KINLAW ABSENT
Three weeks into camp, defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw did not practice for the first time, and it’s believed he was feeling ill. Kinlaw started and played 14 snaps Sunday. He was not credited with a tackle. The 49ers’ 2020 first-round draft pick has endured knee issues his previous seasons, but he used this past offseason to work on mobility and stability so his body (6-foot-5, 305 pounds) could be more explosive.
Fellow defensive tackle Arik Armstead did individual conditioning rather than practice, so benefitting most from the extra practice reps were Marlon Davidson, Spencer Waege and Kerry Hyder Jr., while Javon Hargrave and Kevin Givens lined up with the first unit.
McCAFFREY IMPACTS TDP
Running back Christian McCaffrey did not practice in an apparent rest day. His leadership, however, has influenced Ty Davis-Price, who’s had a solid second training camp. “Whenever I can, I’m always picking his brain on something. He’s a great guy,” Davis-Price said. “You start to get to know them out side of football like at team dinners. He’s amazing.”
One thing McCaffrey has emphasized? “Patience,” Davis-Price responded. “He’s always told me you never know when it’s going to be your year or it’s going to be your play, so just keep your head down and take it one day at a time.” Davis-Price said he focused this offseason on understanding the playbook more so he could gain coaches’ trust. He nearly scored on a draw play in red-zone action Thursday.
JENNINGS THE ENFORCER
Sure, you may know Jennings as “Third-and-Jauan” for his specialty of converting with third-down receptions, but he also acts as the offense’s down-field enforcer, in which the Dallas Cowboys can attest. “My job is also to go out there and hit DBs,” Jennings said. “I weigh 210 (pounds). I have not faced one defensive back who weighs 210, so I have fun.
LINE-ITEM VETO?
Three undrafted offensive linemen — Corey Luciano, Ilm Manning, Joey Fisher — had “first-game issues” Sunday, according to offensive line coach Chris Foerster, who noted that Manning (6-foot-2, 294) has played the best of that trio this camp.
Asked if the 49ers’ starting offensive linemen need to play in the preseason, Foerster noted: “When they come off the field after that first eight- or 10-play drive in the first game of the year, they are flat gassed. No matter how many game you played in the preseason or how many you didn’t, it’s the first real time that you truly exerted everything straining from the snap to whistle.”
NOTES
Jake Moody made both his field-goal attempts from 34 and 44 yards to end practice, but only after special teams coordinator Brian Schneider “iced” him by calling a timeout, which is what the Raiders did before Moody’s two misses in his NFL debut Sunday. … Tight end George Kittle (groin) and linebacker Dre Greenlaw (hamstring) ran on the side. Defensive linemen Drake Jackson (hamstring) and Kalia Davis (hamstring) worked on the side, too, only in full uniform. … Ronnie Bell served as the primary punt returner. … Former 49ers quarterback Alex Smith was at the 49ers’ facility as he continues his foray into a broadcasting career. He’ll work again this season as an ESPN analyst, and he was part of SiriusXM NFL’s broadcast Thursday.