SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Brock Purdy has added a couple of pounds to his frame and a couple of ticks to his fastball.
One of the biggest differences between the current training camp and last year’s is that the San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback no longer has to worry about his surgically repaired elbow. A year ago, Purdy had to take a day off after every two days of practice. This year, there are no restrictions and he’s taken every first-team snap since the spring.
He also was able to spend a full month in Jacksonville, Fla., training with throwing coach Will Hewlett whereas last year he was only able to get in a couple of weeks. That allowed him to continue the training he’d begun coming out of Iowa State in 2022, one that helped him increase his throwing velocity by nearly 5 mph.
That involved utilizing his hips more than his quadriceps when throwing and marrying his shoulder rotation to his lower body.
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Purdy said the month in Jacksonville involved a 3D motion-capture camera that gave him a better idea about the “little mechanical things” he could improve upon.
“I was down there for a good month, so we were actually able to chip away at some things,” he said. “Whereas last year I was there for a couple of weeks and it was more about my elbow and rehab. And I had to come back here early.”
The result, Purdy said, was that he was able to add more velocity to his passes. He was 5-of-8 on the opening practice of training camp Wednesday with standout throws over the middle to Deebo Samuel Sr. and Jauan Jennings and another toward the sideline to Danny Gray.
Just like that.. we’re back 🏈 #49ersCamp pic.twitter.com/mwmpj33Zeh
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) July 24, 2024
Purdy said he also was able to add two pounds of what he called “good weight” to his frame.
“While still being able to move around and be quick,” he said. “That’s all part of my game. I didn’t want to bulk up and gain as much weight as I can. I was smart about it. I’ve still got to throw well.”
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Odds & ends
• The 49ers practiced without two wideouts, Brandon Aiyuk and first-round pick Ricky Pearsall. Aiyuk is sitting out amid a contract dispute while Pearsall is dealing with a minor hamstring strain.
Aiyuk watched the first few minutes of practice in street clothes from the sideline. Shanahan said the receiver reported for training camp Tuesday complaining of neck and back soreness, though it’s understood he’s not practicing because he is seeking a new, lucrative contract.
At one point, general manager John Lynch spoke to Aiyuk and both walked off the field and into team headquarters for roughly 45 minutes. Lynch reappeared at the end of practice; Aiyuk did not.
Brandon Aiyuk just walked off the field … and into the 49ers main HQ building with John Lynch. pic.twitter.com/HMl9l0ylZW
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) July 24, 2024
• Samuel and Chris Conley were the 49ers wideouts when the offense took its first snap in 11-on-11 drills.
Samuel looked slimmer during spring drills than he had the previous season, and he appears to have lost even more weight before the start of training camp. He caught a crisp pass in the teeth of the 49ers defense from Purdy midway through the practice, though he also dropped a Purdy pass later in the session.
“I think he looks great,” Shanahan said. “I thought he looked great in OTAs and minicamp. And I think he looks better today.”
The other receiver who stood out was Gray, who caught two passes from Purdy in 11-on-11 situations.
• On Tuesday, Shanahan said backup quarterbacks Brandon Allen and Joshua Dobbs would split the No. 2 repetitions.
As was the case in the spring, the incumbent, Allen, got the first repetitions. He finished the day 3-of-3 with short attempts to Isaac Guerendo, Logan Thomas and Elijah Mitchell.
Dobbs was 3-of-4 in team situations. During seven-on-seven drills, he threw a deep floater to Gray that rookie safety Malik Mustapha caught up with and intercepted.
“That was awesome,” Shanahan said of Mustapha, “because I just watched the route and I thought Danny got the corner so I thought he was going to win on the go route and then the middle third safety picked it off with ease. He showed his range there.”
The 49ers’ starting safeties Wednesday were George Odum and Ji’Ayir Brown. Mustapha worked with the second-team group.
• At cornerback, Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir lined up at outside cornerback on the opening snap. When the defense switched to its nickel alignment, veteran Isaac Yiadom entered the field and Lenoir moved to the nickel spot.
Second-round pick Renardo Green lined up at both nickel and outside cornerback with the backup group.
• Several players who didn’t participate in the spring drills were back in action Wednesday. That included starters like center Jake Brendel, tight end George Kittle and cornerback Ward as well as backup tight end Cameron Latu.
The backup center was Ben Bartch. Rookie Drake Nugent played center for the No. 3 offense.
• At tight end, veteran Thomas, who was signed in early June, went through his first full practice with his new team. He caught a shovel pass from Allen for a nice gain when the quarterback was flushed out of the pocket to his left.
Meanwhile, blocking tight end Eric Saubert had one of the best plays of the day. It came on Purdy’s first throw of 11-on-11 drills — a lob to the sideline that allowed Saubert to run under the ball and then shield it from linebacker De’Vondre Campbell at the sideline. With Kittle out of action in the spring, Saubert took the most snaps at tight end and currently appears to be the leading candidate for the No. 2 job.
The others at the position are Latu, Brayden Willis, who lined up at fullback on at least one snap, and undrafted rookie Mason Pline.
• With Trent Williams holding out of training camp, Jaylon Moore was the top left tackle with veteran Brandon Parker serving in the backup role. Defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos appeared to get past Moore for a would-be sack late in practice. On the next snap, Nick Bosa, who also was rushing against Moore, got pressure as well.
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• There were two injuries in the opening practice. Linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles limped off the field early in the session and watched the remainder from the sideline.
Meanwhile, Guerendo appeared to suffer a right hamstring strain during an outside run midway through practice on which his knee may have hyperextended. He’ll get an MRI this week. The speedy Guerendo missed big chunks of the 2019 and 2020 seasons at Wisconsin due to hamstring strains but he felt he was able to get on top of that issue last year at Louisville.
Meanwhile, Christian McCaffrey took part in individual drills but was held out of team situations as part of the summer conditioning plan for him. Shanahan said McCaffrey would see a bigger workload Thursday.
The first-string running back was Mitchell followed by Jordan Mason, Patrick Taylor Jr., Guerendo and fellow rookie Cody Schrader.
• The 49ers officially placed linebacker Dre Greenlaw (Achilles), safety Talanoa Hufanga (knee) and defensive end Drake Jackson (knee) on the active/physically unable to perform list on Wednesday. Those players can be activated when healthy. If not, they’ll go to reserve/PUP on cutdown day. At that point, they wouldn’t count against the roster limit but must sit out the first four games of the season.
Greenlaw, who was moving around gingerly in May, looked far more spry on Wednesday and was on the field to help his fellow linebackers warm up.
Dre Greenlaw is on PUP but it’s apparent that he’s very eager to return. He even popped the sled a few times and played catch with Fred Warner. Recovery from Achilles tear is progressing well pic.twitter.com/GRiWK85G9l
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) July 24, 2024
(Photo: Jeff Chiu / Associated Press)
