49ers Training Camp Day 5 Breakdown: Defense

The San Francisco 49ers began padded practice on Monday, marking their fifth practice of the month.

RELATED: 49ers Training Camp Day 5 Breakdown: 11-on-11s

Defense

Defensive Line

Rookie Drake Jackson stood out for the second time in training camp, recording three pressures and a sack, while getting some reps with the first-team defense. He's a potential candidate to see immediate playing time on that defensive line.

With Javon Kinlaw not practicing and Arik Armstead out with a sprained MCL, Kevin Givens was the top defensive tackle on the depth chart on Monday and the 25-year-old looked good once again, racking up a number of pressures, while showcasing his pass-rushing acumen at the defensive tackle spot.

The defensive line played very well against the inside run, thwarting a number of plays near the line of scrimmage with help from the linebackers.

Kerry Hyder saw action with the first-team defense on the interior in place of Kinlaw, but failed to really anything substantial on the day. Additionally, Charles Omenihu saw time with the first-team defense as well.

Linebackers

The linebacker rotations remained the same as yesterday, with Al-Shaair coming off the field and replaced by cornerback Darqueze Dennard in nickel situations.

1st Team
SLB Azeez Al-Shaair
MLB Fred Warner
WLB Dre Greenlaw

2nd Team
SLB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
MLB Curtis Robinson
WLB Oren Burks

3rd Team
SLB Segun Olubi
MLB Jeremiah Gemmel
WLB Marcelino McCrary-Ball

Linebacker Fred Warner continues to showcase his excellent vision, as he filled into the gaps in the interior run game on a couple of occasions today, and his presence was definitely noted in minimal action.

Cornerbacks

Top cornerback Charvarius Ward continued his strong training camp, recording yet another interception on a short pass by Trey Lance

After an up-and-down start to training camp, Ambry Thomas had a nice day on Day 5, having a good rep in the 1-on-1 session against Ray-Ray McCloud.

The coverage was near the best it had been all training camp as receivers failed to get open, forcing quarterbacks to try and extend plays, to no avail, even with a clean pocket.

The slot cornerback position went to Darqueze Dennard once again after Dontae Johnson took a majority of the first-team reps on Monday. Samuel Womack, in return, was elevated to the second-team defense.

Safeties

Jimmie Ward had another strong, physical day after his pass-breakup on Jeff Wilson Jr. on Saturday, jamming receiver Danny Gray on the line in 1-on-1s, as the rookie couldn't even get off the line of scrimmage.

Talanoa Hufanga had a number of nice plays in 1-on-1s, first deflecting a pass, although it was caught after the fact, and then beating tight end Ross Dwelley, undercutting his route inside, and intercepting Brock Purdy's pass.

Leon O'Neal did struggle a bit on Monday, continuously holding the tight end during his 1-on-1 rep as he attempted to cover, and then getting beat by running Jordan Mason over the middle, who was able to get 15 yards over the middle.

Stay tuned for Tuesday's coverage!

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