What we learned Tuesday at 49ers camp: Nick Bosa out with leg strain, Reed debuts
Defensive end Nick Bosa has a strained muscle in his leg and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has a mild hamstring pull, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan reported Tuesday.
SANTA CLARA — Nick Bosa’s leg soreness is more substantial than the 49ers initially suspected.
An MRI on Bosa revealed a muscle strain and he is “week to week,” coach Kyle Shanahan said after Tuesday’s practice.
Bosa grimaced with apparent pain in his upper right leg Friday and sat out the final 30 minutes of that session. He did not practice the next two days of practice for what Shanahan termed as “maintenance” on legs that did not improve.
“Two days later when the soreness was worse, we got worried,” Shanahan said of last season’s NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Bosa played every game last season, after missing most of his rookie training camp with an ankle injury and most of the offseason program with a hamstring strain. He’s been on the field watching parts of practice every day since Friday’s injury.
Aside from the 49ers’ expected announcement that no fans will be allowed for at least their season opener, we mostly learned new details on existing injuries Tuesday at training camp:
INJURY UPDATES
Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk’s left hamstring strain is mild and could require a 10-day rest before the 49ers dig further into preparations for their Sept. 13 opener, said Shanahan. The coach initially feared Aiyuk had a “bad pull” as a result of Sunday’s deep route, which kept the first-round draft pick on the sideline for the final 30 minutes of practice.
Defensive end Dee Ford is day-to-day with calf irritation after coming out of Sunday’s session.
Running back Raheem Mostert did not practice but was given a rest day after his workload the first eight practices, Shanahan said.
Mostert, their leading rusher, worked on the side with a trainer and injured center Ben Garland (ankle) as practice began. They then watched from the sidelines, as did the injured Deebo Samuel (foot), Richie James Jr. (wrist), and K’Waun Williams (calf).
Also out was tight end Ross Dwelley (foot) and guard Ross Reynolds (knee).
JORDAN REED DEBUT
Veteran tight end Jordan Reed looked solid in his first team drills of camp. He caught all three of his targets in one-on-one action against safeties, including two vs. Jaquiski Tartt.
Reed, who spent the first week of practices doing individual conditioning, made a nice catch over the middle from C.J.Beathard against reserve defenders in 11-on-11 action. The only pass Reed didn’t get when targeted was on a Jimmy Garoppolo red-zone attempt.
“The best thing Jordan does he gets up on guys quick and is really explosive getting out of his cuts,” George Kittle said. “He doesn’t waste time hand fighting with guys. He uses his feet to get around them.”
Reed’s history of multiple concussions kept him from playing last season with Washington. Shanahan said Tuesday’s debut was to ease Reed into action to gain mental confidence. “Physically he looked pretty good,” Shanahan said.
With Dwelley out, the 49ers signed another tight end, Erik Swoope; rookie running back Salvon Ahmed was waived.
NO MOVE FOR EARL THOMAS
Shanahan said the 49ers are not interested in safety Earl Thomas, a former Seattle Seahawks star who was released this week by the Baltimore Ravens following a fight at training camp.
“Nothing against Earl but there’s wasn’t interest. We have our team,” Shanahan said. “We’re excited about our group.”
That group of safeties includes incumbent starters Jimmie Ward and Jaquiski Tartt, returning reserves Tarvarius Moore and Marcell Harris, plus the recent addition of veteran Johnathan Cyprien.
D.J. JONES ‘RETURNS’
Nose tackle D.J. Jones made an interception on his return from last week’s concussion and shoulder injury. As for that interception, it came off a deflected pass to Dante Pettis, and before Jones could reach the end zone for a would-be touchdown, Jeff Wilson forced a fumble.
Joining Jones on the first-team line were Solomon Thomas, Arik Armstead and Kerry Hyder.
WIDE RECEIVER HELP
With so many starters hurt, the 49ers have spent all this camp looking at alternative receivers, and four more auditions were lined up Tuesday, the NFL Network reported.
Kevin White, a former first-round pick of the Chicago Bears, was to try out with Johnny Holton, River Cracraft and Justin Hardy.
Among those with full-team receptions Tuesday were in-camp additions Tavon Austin and J.J. Nelson.
Kendrick Bourne and Kittle have been camp’s most popular targets, and Kittle’s highlight Tuesday included a 50-yard reception from C.J. Beathard.
Dante Pettis’ camp has been mostly quiet since a 5-catch practice last week. He got open deep Tuesday but Beathard’s underthrown pass was broken up by Emmanuel Moseley.