49ers’ training camp: Deebo Samuel spies touchdowns on kick returns

Deebo Samuel says he is all for returning kickoffs under the NFL's new rule, although 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan figures to refrain from deploying him there in a full-time role.

SANTA CLARA – Ten wide receivers and running backs lined up in the end zone for the NFL’s newfangled kick-return duty, and one option was not like the others: Deebo Samuel.

“I feel there’s going to be a lot of touchdowns coming from not just us but from other teams as well, because other people have skill guys who are really good in space as well,” Samuel said Friday, after the 49ers’ first kick-return action of training camp.

The NFL’s revamped kickoff rules – essentially, blockers are stationary until a returner fields the ball — should make for an exciting twist to games, especially if proven stars are deployed as returners.

“Kyle (Shanahan) was like, ‘Hey man, I don’t want you to do it full time. We’ll just use you whenever we need it.’ I’m fine with that,” Samuel said. “But if you want to use me full-time, I’m all for that, as well.”

Samuel’s main job remains as an offensive playmaker with his run-after-touch physicality. Since 2021, however, he’s made cameos as a returner in high-stakes games, averaging 25 yards on 16 returns. That includes seven in the postseason, the first of which was a 45-yard breaker to open the second half of their 2021 team’s wild-card upset at Green Bay.

Rookie running back Isaac Guerendo projected as a lead candidate for the returner role, but he sustained a hamstring injury Wednesday in camp’s first practice. Another speedy rookie, Jacob Cowing, is also apparently hurting. With this new rule, however, teams should have more options than a typical return specialist.

“Looking at it, it’s kind of weird,” Samuel added. “But on the return team, we have a real big advantage. If you make one guy miss, it’s just you and the kicker, and nine times out of 10, the kicker is not making the tackle. I’m pretty sure people will try to turn skill guys into kickers, just so they have a last line of defense to tackle.”

Only one of the 49ers’ past 469 kick returns (including 42 in the playoffs) resulted in a touchdown, that by Richie James in December 2018. The previous one was in the 2011 opener by Ted Ginn Jr., who produced the 49ers’ last punt return for a touchdown in that same game.

WILLIAMS’ HOLDOUT

While wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk remained absent from practice amid his contract stalemate, Trent Williams’ holdout is not being minimized by Chris Foerster, the 49ers’ offensive line coach whose history with Williams goes back to his 2010 rookie year in Washington.

Foerster wants Williams’ contract resolved as soon as possible, citing how he stayed healthy in recent seasons after routinely practicing every 2-of-3 days at camp. “These reps are all important,” Foerster said. “My thing with him for years, yes as a 14-year vet and any player I’ve had that gets up in years, they still need work. Everybody does. Great basketball players still shoot free throws.”

Friday’s offensive line featured only two regular starters: left guard Aaron Banks and right tackle Colton McKivitz.

REST AND RECOVERY

Practice No. 3 saw a large number of starters rest their bodies: defensive end Nick Bosa, running back Christian McCaffrey, tight end George Kittle, cornerback Charvarius Ward, defensive tackle Maliek Collins, and offensive linemen Jake Brendel, Jon Feliciano and Spencer Burford, the latter of whom had taken all first-team reps at right guard prior to rookie Dominick Puni filling that role Friday. It’s unknown if Burford sustained an injury Thursday; Shanahan next speaks to the media after Saturday’s practice.

FLOYD FLASHES

Defensive end Leonard Floyd made an impactful debut in team drills. He worked his way past tight end Eric Saubert for a would-be sack of Purdy, who followed with a pass toward Samuel that got broken up by Isaac Yiadom. Yetur Gross-Matos was the other starter at defensive end while Bosa rested and observed practice.

PURDY REBOUNDS

After Purdy’s initial passes in team drills were broken up by Yiadom and DeVondre Campbell, an overthrow toward Samuel got intercepted by safety Ji’Ayir Brown about 40 yards downfield. Purdy later failed to connect with Ronnie Bell on a deep ball covered by Brown and Yiadom, but the third-year quarterback finished with completions to Samuel and Elijah Mitchell.

‘ALL-PRO MOONEY’

Some six months removed from core-muscle surgery, Ward is looking to improve on last season’s career-high five interceptions, which earned him his first Pro Bowl selection as well as AP Second-Team All-Pro honors. “I felt good a couple of months after, but right now doing football movements again, it feels kind of weird,” Ward said. “It’s not hurting or anything like that but right now my body feels brand new to me. The doctor went in and repaired a bunch of those soft-tissue muscles. It feels different right now and I’m getting accustomed back to them.”

With Ward resting Friday, Deommodore Lenoir and Yiadom served as the starting cornerbacks, with Lenoir shifting inside and Ambry Thomas entering at left cornerback in nickel situations.