Day 6 of the San Francisco 49ers training camp is officially over, as it was a lighter practice following a scrimmage-heavy day on Monday, with the team following a balanced approach with the pass and run game.
The offense and defense each had their moments, with quarterback Brock Purdy having his best practice following Trey Lance's strong performance on Monday, while the defense accumulated eight sacks on the day, the most of training camp so far.
Here were the standout players from Day 6, which I talked about in-depth when recapping the day of practice in our podcast down below.
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RB Jordan Mason
Yesterday, on the podcast and in my articles, I stressed my desire to see flashes from the running backs today, and boy, did we get them.
Jordan Mason came to practice on Tuesday with a chip on his shoulder, as his physical, violent running approach was on display, with the second-year back getting a lot of work, as Elijah Mitchell didn't appear to practice much on Day 6.
Mason had several positive plays and started to get into his own groove with pads finally on, looking like the player he was last season, and most importantly, keeping control of the football after a few fumble issues earlier in camp.
In addition, an underrated portion of Mason's game may be his receiving capabilities. I first noticed them last year during training camp in his limited appearances during 1-on-1s and 11-on-11s, but he showcased solid route-running for his size, which works well when matched with his play style and change of direction.
That leads me to question how strong his pass-protection skills are, as that'd be the main reason why he wouldn't be on the field for third-down passing opportunities.
However, the 49ers are likely looking for a player that can emulate the Christian McCaffrey skillset to preserve continuity when providing their top running back with rest, and Mason could fit that mold with his improving receiving skills, which was also reported during OTAs this offseason.
RB Tyrion Davis-Price
With running backs seeing a bigger focus on Tuesday, Jordan Mason wasn't the only back who enjoyed a good day; Tyrion Davis-Price returned to the "standouts" list after some quiet days following his strong Day 1 performance.
Davis-Price looks improved and there's no question about it. He's more decisive when hitting holes, which in return has made the game speed up for the running back, as he accelerates quicker and gets downhill faster, extending a number of his runs.
In addition, the former third-rounder's vision has seemingly improved as well, as seen on some cutbacks and runs to the outside, making him a viable option in the 49ers' loaded backfield.
Davis-Price was also running with some force on Tuesday, lowering his shoulder on Fred Warner during a rep with the first-team offense, and worked hard for some of his bigger gains on the day.
DE Taco Charlton
The 49ers announced the signing of defensive end Taco Charlton right before practice, and it's safe to say that move has already started to look good just one practice in.
Charlton put his name on the map Tuesday, dominating in 1-on-1s and even team drills while working exclusively with the second and third-team defenses, putting him in the competition with several other defensive ends to potentially make the 53-man roster.
Charlton began with wins over Jaylon Moore and Leroy Watson in 1-on-1s, and followed that with an easy sack of Brandon Allen when lined up against Joey Fisher in 11-on-11s. It's been just one day, but Charlton is certainly a player to look out for as the next potential reclamation project for Kris Kocurek.
DT Javon Hargrave
Javon Hargrave hasn't made an appearance on this list primarily due to the limited nature of his reps, with the 49ers trying to rotate in backups with the starters on the defensive line, but the star defensive tackle was a clear impact player on Tuesday, demonstrating why the team paid him a lot of money.
Hargrave easily won a rep of 1-on-1s that I charted against Corey Luciano, although he did have a good battle with left guard Aaron Banks on another play. However, he earned himself yet another sack in 11-on-11s, this time working against Spencer Burford and getting to Brock Purdy once again this training camp.
Hargrave is a disrupter on the interior, especially as a pass-rusher, and should benefit more from Steve Wilks's aggressive nature, as more players flooding the pocket forces the quarterback to step up, leading to cleanup duty for the interior players.
The defensive tackle has worked well with fellow defensive ends, who have flushed Purdy closer into the pocket by attacking the outside, allowing Hargrave to use his power to get into the quarterback's space and record the sack.
I'm not sure how much more of Hargrave we'll see prior to a reunion with his former team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, in Week 1, but he was a standout player on Tuesday.
DL Alex Barrett
Alex Barrett continues to find his way onto the "standouts" list, recording yet another solid day of practice on Day 6.
Barrett, working both inside and outside, won a 1-on-1 rep against Spencer Burford, although I thought Jaylon Moore got the better of him on a different rep.
Still, Barrett had a great day, recording yet another sack, beating Burford to get to Brock Purdy during a rep with the first-team offense.
Seen primarily with the third-team defense to begin training camp, Barrett has slowly crept his way to bigger reps, earning run with the top defense for the second day of camp, and working on the outside as well as the inside.
The 49ers like versatile defensive linemen, and Barrett has been a camp standout for the second consecutive season. Can he get a crack at the 53-man roster?
