Friday was by far the 49ers’ longest practice of training camp. It had incredible receptions, would-be pick-sixes, quarterback pressures, and a scary moment involving a star player.
Brock Purdy’s day, and a Deebo Samuel scare
Purdy took 32 reps, going 13-of-17 with 2 touchdowns, an incredible deep completion to George Kittle, a near interception on another deep ball and was would-be sacked three times.
On his three sacks, he threw a terrible pick-six, to Tashaun Gipson Sr., completed a short screen to Christian McCaffrey and had a pass to George Kittle broken up well by Ambry Thomas.
His first play was a sack, but followed by a short completion to Christian McCaffrey, in an enticing look where Deebo Samuel came out of the backfield.
His next set of reps featured some deep shots. The first was an outstanding, at least 40-yard completion down the left sideline to a leaping George Kittle. The next pass went incomplete, with Fred Warner and Talanoa Hufanga closing down an attempt over the middle to Jauan Jennings.
The last ball was basically the same shot play that went to Kittle a couple plays earlier. This time, it went to Deebo Samuel, who was well-covered. The ball by Purdy was underthrown slightly, leaving a window for Hufanga to range over and drop what should have been an interception.
On his next series, Purdy hit McCaffrey on a quick out, with Isaiah Oliver in tow. The following play was a stunner, with Clelin Ferrell clearly beating Trent Williams to Purdy. Purdy tried to hit Kittle short, but Ambry Thomas drove hard on the ball to break it up.
The next set of reps featured situational drills, and Purdy began with a couple short completions to Kittle. He tried another one towards Samuel — while under pressure from Javon Hargrave on a stunt with Ferrell — that Deommdore Lenoir drove on to break up excellently.
Purdy’s worst play of the day came on his next set. He was swarmed in the pocket for an obvious sack, then threw an embarrassing interception to Tashaun Gipson Sr. for a surefire pick-six.
The highlight of the day was in the following period. Purdy launched a difficult, but well-placed pass for Brandon Aiyuk layered over underneath coverage, and Aiyuk, covered tightly by Lenoir, leapt up and snagged the ball, securing it to the ground.
Two plays later, Aiyuk was in the end zone, housing a crosser and beating Gipson Sr. in a foot race.
The period ended with the scariest moment of practice. Lenoir was glued to Deebo Samuel in the end zone, but Samuel managed to leap over Lenoir and come down with the ball for the second touchdown of the period. He stayed down after the play for at least a minute, in clear pain.
Relief came shortly after, though, as Samuel got up and returned to practice on Purdy’s next series.
Purdy found a few completions on that series, but ended on a rare incompletion to Aiyuk. He fired a well-placed ball as was getting out of his route, and Aiyuk leapt sideways, nearly making a nice grab, but failing to come down with it. It was by no means an easy catch, but one that you’d expect him to come down with.
Trey Lance with a dime, and Ronnie Bell connection
Lance took 22 reps, finishing 8-of-11 with one absolute dime.
His day began with a completion over the middle to Brayden Willis — a tick behind, but catchable, and caught.
He missed Jordan Mason on the first throw of his next series, but found Jauan Jennings over pressure.
Lance’s following three passes, all relatively short-range timing throws, were complete, to Willie Snead IV, Jack Colletto, and Ronnie Bell. The last throw was sketchy, towards Bell inside’s shoulder, but that was also why it turned into a substantial gain. Tre Swilling tried to drive on the ball, but couldn’t arrive in time, letting Bell loose for a chunk after the catch.
The best ball of the day came in Lance’s next series. It was a gorgeous, layered ball to a crossing Jennings, just out of the reach of Ji’Ayir Brown, for at least a 25-yard gain.
His day ended with a mixed bag of an eight-play situational drive. His first completion showed nice timing between him and Bell, turning into another chunk play. He was pressured on his next couple plays, taking off once and missing Ty Davis-Price low on the following opportunity. His final completion came on a great sideline catch from Isaiah Winstead on a high ball. Lance’s final play was a pass towards Willis, broken up by an oncoming Tayler Hawkins.
Sam Darnold mostly on target, and D’Shawn Jamison turns more heads
Darnold took 22 reps, going 8-of-11 with one near interception and a sack.
His day began with a would-be sack from Kerry Hyder Jr., and a following completion to Aiyuk. His next series featured three-straight completions, to Ray-Ray McCloud, Samuel, and Aiyuk.
After an easy screen to McCloud to open his next series, Darnold was nearly sacked, and came inches from being picked off by D’Shawn Jamison on a ball out to the right towards Chris Conley.
Jamison drew high praise on Thursday from Charvarius Ward — who said he’s learned from Jamison’s patience in backpedaling — and on Friday from Steve Wilks.
“Very impressed. Very impressed,” Wilks said of Jamison. “He has definitely made strides since the spring.”
Darnold’s next set featured three-straight completions, to Troy Fumagalli, Dazz Newsome — a nice crosser for a chunk gain — and a dart in a tight window to Willis.
His last period was, like Lance, an eight-play situational period. Darnold looked solid.
He found Snead on an out route, then a short connection to Mason. He had to throw his penultimate play into the dirt while facing pressure, but ended with a well-timed throw to McCloud on an out route while under pressure.
Brandon Allen’s lean reps, and Jake Moody’s miss
Allen had 12 reps, going 3-of-6 on the day with two sacks, and a dart that followed a sack.
Like the two quarterbacks preceding him, started his day with a sack.
Despite the clear sack, Allen has to be credited for an excellent, back foot ball over the middle that Danny Gray — who shows a little more each day — snagged over close coverage.
His next series began with a couple completions to Fumagalli and Mason. It also featured a sack, this time from Marlon Davidson. Allen found Aiyuk for a negated catch after the sack.
Allen’s final series featured six reps of the situational period that weren’t all that kind to him.
He had a would-be completion to Colletto broken up by a hard-charging McCrary-Ball. McCrary-Ball hit Colletto hard, jarring the ball loose. His next pass was a tick behind McCloud over the middle, but dropped.
Allen finished with a screen to McCloud before launching a deep ball down the left sideline towards Fumagalli. McCrary-Ball stayed with him, but was a bit too eager in coverage and got flagged for pass interference.
The day concluded with a 62-yard attempt from Jake Moody that came up about a yard short. Moody seems like he has that distance in his leg, just not on Friday.