49ers training camp: Purdy-Pearsall chemistry grows, Mykel Williams an interior threat, other notes from practice No. 11

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The San Francisco 49ers held their 11th training camp practice on Tuesday, as they prepare for Saturday’s preseason opener against the Denver Broncos.

Before practice began, the team made some wide receiver moves, re-signing Equanimeous St. Brown to a one-year contract and releasing Andy Isabella, who suffered an ankle injury during Monday’s practice.

Here are some key highlights from the 10:25 a.m. PT practice at the SAP Performance Facility, compiled from multiple media reports.

Noteworthy non-participants

RB Christian McCaffrey and OT Trent Williams returned after Monday rest days.

DE Nick Bosa has now missed three straight practices. When asked Monday if the absence was injury-related, head coach Kyle Shanahan said, “No. We just gave him off today—vet day.”

Unavailable players

Physically unable to perform (PUP)
Non-football injury (NFI)
Injured reserve (IR)

Quick notes

Rookie RB Jordan James returned to practice on Monday but was limited coming off a knee injury. He was a full participant during Tuesday’s session and was heavily featured in team drills. That’s critical for an offense expected to be without Isaac Guerendo for several weeks.

“Looks explosive,” the San Francisco Chronicle’s Noah Furtado wrote of James.

CB Deommodore Lenoir also increased his workload after being limited on Monday, and made a highlight pass breakup on a QB Brock Purdy throw intended for TE George Kittle.

The Purdy to WR Ricky Pearsall chemistry continues to grow. The two have connected on passes 13 times during training camp, with just one incompletion. Pearsall finished Tuesday’s practice with five catches.

“Purdy’s first four completions on the day were directed at Pearsall, who caught passes at every level of the 49ers’ defense,” wrote NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco.

RBs Christian McCaffrey and Patrick Taylor Jr. showed good field vision, hitting holes for what might have been long runs in a game.

Rookie WR Jordan Watkins hauled in four passes, all from QB Mac Jones, while TE Brayden Willis caught three.

The biggest fight of camp broke out, involving rookie OL Connor Colby, highlighting the team’s readiness to face new competition during Thursday’s joint practice with Denver.

With DT Kevin Givens out, rookie DT C.J. West saw more first-team reps and beat C Jake Brendel twice in one-on-ones.

S Richie Grant and S Jason Pinnock worked with the starting secondary, joined by CBs Deommodore Lenoir and Dallis Flowers outside. Lenoir again broke up a Purdy-to-Kittle attempt.

Rookie CB Jakob Robinson tipped a Mac Jones pass during team drills, but WR Demarcus Robinson still snagged it for a 75-yard touchdown in one of training camp’s most impressive plays.

CB Upton Stout continued to stand out. It was a busy day full of highlights for the rookie. He broke up a perfectly thrown deep ball from Purdy to McCaffrey, won reps against Pearsall in red zone one-on-ones, stuffed a McCaffrey run, and set a strong edge vs. OT Spencer Burford, resulting in a short gain by RB Corey Kiner.

“To piggyback off Kyle (Shanahan), you could probably say he has the inside track in a very long race, and we still have three preseason games,” defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said of Stout. “He’s still got to show that he can do what he’s been doing against different competition. Still got to show he can tackle. So, there’s still a lot of things that he has to show.”

DT Kalia Davis is making a strong case to be part of the defensive line rotation. He got the best of RT Colton McKivitz during team drills for a would-be sack.

Rookie DL Mykel Williams continues to showcase his versatility, able to line up outside and inside. He’s been a pleasant surprise, considering most initially expected him to contribute as an edge rusher primarily.

Saleh was asked what makes Williams such an effective interior rusher, too.

“He’s got great feet,” Saleh said. “He’s kind of awkward because he’s long, he’s tall. He’s not a traditional three-technique. So, he’s got great foot speed, strength, power, and length. He’s shifty. He can get outside his frame. It’s different for guards to go against a guy like him. He’s so good with his hands. He’s so good with his feet. He plays with great pad level, he’s got power.

“So, he’s a three-way player. He can run around you, he can run through you, he can counter, he’s showing all of it off. He still has a long way to go. He’s going to be a good football player in this league. It may not come this year, but you could see it through practice that this kid, once he gets it, it’s going to be special.”

As for DT Alfred Collins, Saleh provided an update on the rookie: “Alfred’s been getting better every day, getting his legs underneath him, showing some really good progress in the run game.”

Jake Moody, now the lone kicker on the team, went 5-of-6 on field goals, connecting from 33, 35, 37, 44, and 46 yards, with his only miss coming from 55 (off the crossbar).

Quarterback play

According to ESPN’s Nick Wagoner, Brock Purdy was 10-of-15 passing, throwing a touchdown (to Kittle) and an interception (to S Richie Grant).

The Athletic’s Matt Barrows reported that Mac Jones completed all 14 of his mostly short-range pass attempts before tossing an incompletion.

Next practice

The 49ers have Wednesday off before hosting a joint practice with the Denver Broncos on Thursday, August 7, starting at 10:25 a.m. PT.

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