Day 5 of the San Francisco 49ers training camp is officially over, as head coach Kyle Shanahan conducted an intense, scrimmage-filled practice that involved both team drills and move-the-ball periods on the first day of padded practices.
The offense and defense each had their moments, with quarterback Trey Lance having his best practice, while the defense accumulated six sacks on the day.
Here were the standout players from Day 5, which I talked about in-depth when recapping the day of practice in our podcast down below.
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QB Trey Lance
Trey Lance had his best day of training camp this year, and arguably over his whole career, completing 8/10 passes in a strong practice for the backup quarterback.
Lance's two incompletions weren't poor plays, as he had a miscommunication with Jordan Mason on a route up the sideline, while throwing a ball away under pressure on what could've been a sack.
Trey Lance's two incompletions were:
1. A miscommunication with Jordan Mason up the left sideline on a throw(Mason didn't look back).
2. A throwaway in move-the-ball with pressure converging. Mason was closest target, but was covered.#49wz #49ers
— Rohan Chakravarthi (@RohanChakrav) July 31, 2023
As for the completions, Lance targeted all areas of the field, hitting the short game, while stretching it out for multiple 20+ yard plays, showcasing good accuracy and confidence, while stacking up his second consecutive solid practice.
Consistency has been an issue for Lance in the past, so it's a good sign that he's starting to have back-to-back solid days, which he'll look to continue on Tuesday.
DT Javon Kinlaw
No stranger to this list thus far in training camp, Javon Kinlaw deserved a spot in the "standouts" section today, as he suited up and practiced in 1-on-1s for the first time in a few offseasons due to injury.
Kinlaw had a strong performance, winning reps against Jake Brendel, Joey Fisher, Jon Feliciano, and Spencer Burford in 1-on-1s, displaying a combination of strength, speed, and pass-rushing moves across the different reps.
Kinlaw's biggest obstacle remains to be his health and productivity in games, but the defensive tackle is injury-free and looks in the best shape of his career, while making the most of his opportunities thus far.
OT Colton McKivitz
Colton McKivitz's performance this training camp will likely be put under a magnifying glass, given how he's the lone difference along the offensive line for the 49ers this season, and a big question mark.
Well, Monday was the first day we could see answers to the perceived question mark, and McKivitz passed the task. The former swing tackle won two reps against Kerry Hyder, as well as a solo rep versus Drake Jackson for a successful day in 1-on-1s as a pass protector.
Now, McKivitz will need to continue these types of performances, while showcasing some ability and consistency in the run game, but it was a solid start to padded practices for the first-year starter.
I'll place a bigger focus on him now in team drills to see what differences are made in a real-game setting.
WR Ray-Ray McCloud
Sunday's practice differed from the regular day, as the starters were seen eating significantly into backup reps and playing with the second and third-string offenses, while demanding most of the targets.
As a result, reserve wideouts like Ray-Ray McCloud didn't get as big of an opportunity to showcase their skills, but that changed Monday as the return specialist saw significant volume and impressed.
Working with the backup units, McCloud caught three passes: a 20-yard in-breaker from Sam Darnold, a five-yard short crosser from Trey Lance, and another 20-yard in-breaker, with the latter coming in tight coverage and the wideout making a strong play.
McCloud isn't only a return specialist; he can serve as a wideout and gadget player when needed, and those abilities were seen on Monday with extended opportunity.
DL Alex Barrett
For some reason, when the pads come on and 1-on-1s begin, defensive lineman Alex Barrett begins to turn up the intensity and really shine.
Just like last offseason, Barrett dominated in 1-on-1s on Monday, beating Nick Zakelj, Jaylon Moore, Aaron Banks, and Ilm Manning on his four reps.
In those opportunities, Barrett did everything: working with pure power against much bigger linemen on the interior, as well as utilizing speed and power to beat tackles when lined up on the outside.
As a result, Barrett did see some extended reps in team drills, where he was featured with the second-team defense at times.
Barrett may not make the 53-man roster due to the overload of depth, but he's a fun player to watch during camp, especially in 1-on-1s, and will look to stack up consecutive days of strong play on Tuesday.
