49ers Training Camp: Trey Lance gets most first-team reps on high-energy Day 1
The 49ers won't put the pads on until day five of training camp, but there was no shortage of aggression in practice on day one. With Brock Purdy, having been cleared to return to practice following offseason elbow surgery, not on the field as he rested after a throwing session on Tuesday, it was Trey […]
The 49ers won't put the pads on until day five of training camp, but there was no shortage of aggression in practice on day one.
With Brock Purdy, having been cleared to return to practice following offseason elbow surgery, not on the field as he rested after a throwing session on Tuesday, it was Trey Lance who got the majority of the reps with the first-team offense.
The pass-catchers on the receiving end of throws from Lance wasted no time in getting into a chirping match with the defense as they attempted to claim victory in a practice battle between two elite units.
And, among the non-quarterbacks, it was the wide receivers who claimed most of the spotlight as the 49ers stepped up their preparations for another run at the Super Bowl.
Lance gets first crack at starting reps in Purdy absence
Though his hopes of being the starting quarterback in 2023 may have disappeared with the news that Purdy is ready to return to the fold, Lance began his apparent QB2 battle with Sam Darold the top of the pecking order.
Lance got the first-team reps until Darnold was given some near the end of practice, and the reviews for San Francisco's 2021 third overall pick were predominantly positive.
He was reported as going 4-of-5 in team drills by The Athletic's David Lombardi and ESPN's Nick Wagoner, the latter praising his decisiveness in the team session.
Lance hit Tyrion Davis-Price on a rail route downfield, connected with Cameron Latu on an intermediate throw and also managed to find Brandon Aiyuk downfield, the wideout beating Deommodre Lenoir to make a contested catch.
After practice, Lance was praised by tight end George Kittle for his confidence, and there were also plaudits for a bullish Aiyuk.
Aiyuk "on another level"
The 49er receivers were jawing with their defensive teammates in the secondary after practice about who had the edge in the session. The wideouts followed the lead of Aiyuk, who before camp had sent a social media warning to defenders that he was "coming for anything in a white jersey" and made good on that promise by talking smack to Lenoir after beating the cornerback to a Lance throw.
Heading into his fourth season and coming off his first 1,000-yard campaign, Aiyuk is oozing confidence, much to the delight of fellow receiver Deebo Samuel.
Said Samuel, per 49ers Webzone:
"It's crazy because I'm with him every day. He's like my guy. From year one to now, his confidence level is through the roof. He walks in, he walks out every day like nobody can guard him. And you walk around with that type of attitude, you take that out there to the field, I mean, it can only translate. He took his game to another level, and it's very exciting to see."
Samuel was extremely critical of his own performance last year but is hopeful he will be operating at a similar standard to Aiyuk after getting into what he described as "the best shape that I’ve been in since the 2019 year."
A bounce-back year from Samuel would be a tremendous boost to both the passing attack and the running game, and a less heralded contributor to the ground attack also appeared to be physically improved in the opening practice.
TDP shines as McCaffrey held out
Christian McCaffrey did everything during OTAs and minicamp, but the 49ers, knowing the importance of the NFL's most versatile weapon at running back, held him out of Wednesday's team drills.
Elijah Mitchell was predictably the first-team running back in his absence, but the star of the show at the position on day one was last year's third-round pick Tyrion Davis-Price.
Davis-Price reeled in a deep ball from Lance and, per Wagoner, looked both leaner and quicker in a practice highlighted by several explosive plays from the former LSU back.
Having entered camp with his roster spot potentially in doubt, Davis-Price looks to have responded to the pressure in ideal fashion.
The 49ers understand the value of running back depth given the wear and tear players at the position put on their bodies, making it likely they will again carry four on the 53-man roster in 2023.
A bad camp could remove Davis-Price from the depth chart, but he has begun camp on an upward trajectory. After Jordan Mason's emergence last season, the 49ers will be extremely satisfied with their options in the backfield behind McCaffrey and Mitchell if Davis-Price takes a leap following an underwhelming 2022.
All-Pro Fred makes fast start
Fred Warner's reputation as the premier coverage linebacker in the NFL is well-earned, and he delivered a scarcely needed reminder of his abilities in that area on Wednesday.
Warner went step for step in downfield coverage against Samuel to break up a deep pass from Lance on a blitz-beating throw. Having made a spectacular play in coverage against CeeDee Lamb in the playoffs last year, Warner continues to prove he is a rare talent at linebacker who can cover wide receivers one on one and win the matchup.
While Warner was back at his brilliant best, another 49ers defensive All-Pro was not at practice.
It was confirmed on Tuesday that Nick Bosa would hold out while his representatives and the 49ers try to agree a contact extension. He was placed on the reserve/did not report list on Wednesday, freeing up a roster spot that was filled by former USFL linebacker Kyahva Tezion.
The 49ers are used to Warner and Defensive Player of the Year Bosa making critical plays, however, contributions from former first-rounder Javon Kinlaw have been thin on the ground.
Kinlaw, the 14th overall pick in 2020, has struggled mightily with knee injuries, but Shanahan is impressed with the physical condition of the defensive tackle — who appears to have cut weight — at the start of camp.
"Kinlaw's been unbelievable. Just in the fact that, I mean, you guys see how he looks, and he's just gone a full year with no setbacks. And so to get through OTAs with that and then our 40 days away, it continued. And as that happens he just keeps looking better and better and everyone knows the specimen that he is, so now hopefully that can continue through training camp so he can really tie that to football. And if he can do that and stay healthy, with the way he's worked and the way his talent is and his mindset, I feel it's a matter of time for him."
In the final year of his deal after the 49ers declined his fifth-year option, Kinlaw is running out of time to make an impact.
There have been plenty of positive noises about Kinlaw in preseasons gone by. It would be a huge boon for the Niners' defensive line depth for these encouraging words from Shanahan to prove prescient.
49ers Deebo Samuel in best shape since 2019 season
He is determined there will be no sluggish showings in 2023.
Featured Image Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
