The San Francisco 49ers held their ninth of 13 scheduled training camp practices. The location changed from previous practices, though. The session was held inside Levi's Stadium and represented the first time the venue hosted 49ers fans since the NFC Championship Game in January of 2020.
19,021 fans filled the stadium.
.@treylance09 getting ready for #49ers open practice in side Levi's Stadium beginning in about 20 minutes pic.twitter.com/YgLperf1zW
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) August 7, 2021
Fans back in Levi's Stadium for the first time since #49ers NFC Championship rout of Packers on Jan. 19, 2020
Practice starts in about 30 minutes pic.twitter.com/7s1X9wLGVy
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) August 7, 2021
Below are some practice notes from various media sources.
Did not practice:
- LB Azeez Al-Shaair (leg)
- DL Arik Armstead (groin)
- DE Samson Ebukam (leg)
- DT Javon Kinlaw (maintenance day)
- TE MyCole Pruitt (calf)
Defensive lineman Zach Kerr (groin) and Kentavius Street (unknown) returned to practice after missing Friday's session. Defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw received the day off.
No Javon Kinlaw, Samson Ebukam, Arik Armstead at today's #49ers open practice
Nick Bosa and Dee Ford suited up. pic.twitter.com/BCLomkm8w2
— Jennifer Lee Chan (@jenniferleechan) August 7, 2021
Cornerback Ken Webster left practice with what appeared to be a left arm or shoulder injury after getting tangled up with tight end Jordan Matthews.
Rookie Hype Machine
Rookie cornerbacks Ambry Thomas and Deommodore Lenoir got fans fired up before practice.
Now THAT is how you rookie hype machine @Tavonn_ @Dmo_lenoir #49ers #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/CJkboxQk3I
— Tracy Sandler (@49ersfangirl) August 7, 2021
QB watch
Team drills included a scenario giving the offense 1:15 on the clock and starting from its own 35-yard line. Jimmy Garoppolo moved the first-team offense down the field and capped the drive with a two-yard touchdown pass to tight end George Kittle, who was covered by Lenoir. (KNBR)
Kittle spiked the football, which made the football-hungry crowd go wild. (Bay Area News Group)
Garoppolo got the team in field goal range on another drive. David Lombardi of The Athletic broke that field-goal-scoring drive play by play.
Move-the-ball Drive 1 for Jimmy Garoppolo (ones):
-First-down throw to Woerner
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) August 7, 2021
-Sermon big run
-First-down throw to Samuel
-First-down throw to Samuel
-Run
-Incomplete throwaway
-Incomplete to Samuel (Verrett PBU)
-Presumed FG
One of Trey Lance's drives ended with an interception. The football bounced off the hands of rookie running back Elijah Mitchell and into the hands of Marcell Harris, who is working at linebacker. (KNBR) Lance's two other drives ended up being three-and-outs. (Sacramento Bee) "Overall, Lance wasn't as sharp, for a second straight practice," wrote Cam Inman. (Bay Area News Group)
Lance finished the day 11-of-19 passing during team drills. Garoppolo was 14-of-23. (The Athletic) One of the veteran's passes, a 40-yard throw toward Kittle over the middle, was broken up by safety Jimmy Ward and linebacker Fred Warner. (Bay Area News Group)
Josh Rosen finished 4-of-4 while Nate Sudfeld was 1-of-2. (NBC Sports Bay Area)
Trey Lance to Deebo Samuel 🎯 pic.twitter.com/8SNrI0i3Fp
— Jake Hutchinson (@hutchdiesel) August 7, 2021
Other notes
Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk looked good in one-on-one drills beating Thomas and Lenoir for two "stand-out" reps. Another receiver, Travis Benjamin, made sure fans remember he is still on the roster after opting out last season. "The 31-year-old receiver burned Webster in a 1-on-1 rep before the defensive back left practice due to an injury," wrote Jennifer Lee Chan. (NBC Sports Bay Area)
Cornerback Jason Verrett had a good practice. He recorded a couple of pass breakups during team drills while going against wide receiver Deebo Samuel, including an impressive diving one along the sideline. (Sacramento Bee) Verrett got his fingers on another pass that would have otherwise landed in Aiyuk's hands for a first down. (NBC Sports Bay Area)
The fans at Levi's Stadium nearly scared the (bleep) out of offensive tackle Trent Williams, who has not been in front of that many people since 2018. He didn't play in 2019.
"Obviously, they had some fans on the road last year, but for me, walking out of a home locker room, and having the fans—I mean, honestly, it almost scared the s--t out of ... I mean, excuse my language," Williams said. "It almost scared me because I'm just walking out for normal practice. I forget that the fans are there.
"As soon as you walk out, you just hear a thunderous roar. I'm like, 'Oh.' I mean, obviously I was walking behind (George) Kittle and (Nick) Bosa, so they had reasons to scream, but it definitely was one of those benchmarks. Like, 'Oh, hold on, I forgot what it feels like to be cheered on.'"
Defensive end Nick Bosa participated in warmup and individual drills. However, he is still being held out of team drills.
Another defensive end, Eddie Yarbrough, stood out with two would-be sacks of Lance and even broke up one of the rookie's passes.
"Yarbrough is a guy who came in late during training camp and had a late start to training camp, but he stepped in and he's done really well," defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans said after practice. "The guy, he never stops. That's one thing I like about Yarbrough, he never stops. Always good energy, always going, great motor, great effort. And he's always around the ball making plays. So Yarbrough has a good job for us."
Quick trip to Canton
Head coach Kyle Shanahan was initially scheduled to speak with reporters after practice. But he was in a hurry to get out of Levi's Stadium, so Ryans took his place. Shanahan and assistant general manager Adam Peters left practice and headed to the airport.
As John Lynch explained earlier this week, the two will travel to Canton, Ohio to join the 49ers general manager for his Hall of Fame party tonight. Team CEO Jed York is already there.
Shanahan and Peters plan to return in time for tomorrow's practice in Santa Clara.
Other videos from practice
Nick Bosa has taken the field at open practice. pic.twitter.com/5bgUneoqdS
— Keiana Martin (@KeianaMartinTV) August 7, 2021
Jimmy Garoppolo, still a favorite of the #49ers Faithful (disclaimer: Trey Lance also drew applause, and Nick Bosa the biggest roar and almost a mini-wave of fans rising from seats) pic.twitter.com/TuXI7zpZDv
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) August 7, 2021
Fans back in Levi's for the first time since the NFC Championship game pic.twitter.com/whsNlRCMKB
— Jake Hutchinson (@hutchdiesel) August 7, 2021
Remaining training camp practices
- Sunday, August 8
- Tuesday, August 10
- Wednesday, August 11
- Thursday, August 12