19,021 49ers fans celebrated Dwight Clark Day, as they watched the San Francisco 49ers practice at Levi’s Stadium, making it the first time the team has had home fans since the 2019 NFC Championship Game.
“This is what sports are all about,” said 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans. “The energy fans bring to the game. I felt that energy all day.”
For OT Trent Williams, it was the first time he played in front of fans since 2018.
“Walking out of the home locker room and having fans, honestly, it almost scared the [%$**] out of me,” left tackle Trent Williams said. “I was just walking out to a normal practice. But the fans are there, and, as soon as you walk out, you hear a thunderous roar. Obviously I was walking in behind [TE George] Kittle and [DE Nick] Bosa. It was like, ‘Oh, I forgot what it was like to be cheered on.'”
That feeling was shared by cornerback Emmanuel Moseley, who was participating in his second practice since coming off the COVID list.
“It was amazing, just going out there, seeing the Faithful,” Moseley said. “Just having them out there gives you the energy to keep going, just pumps you up.”
Quarterbacks
Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo looked sharp, consistently moving the first-team during non-scripted periods. He went 15-of-24 and gave fans a treat when he completed a two-yard touchdown pass to Kittle.
“Jimmy’s been pretty sharp all camp, if you diagnose all his reps,” Williams said. “He’s been the same guy.”
As was the case yesterday, quarterback Trey Lance was not quite as precise as he’d been earlier in the week. He finished the day 11-of-19 with an interception on a pass that went off RB Elijah Mitchell’s hands and right to Marcell Harris. These things happen. It doesn’t change what Lance can do.
“You look at his size, he’s a little bit bigger than the prototypcial quarterback,” Williams said. “You look at athleticism and he has an edge. He can also do the things a conventional quarterback can do. You don’t see those come around too often, and they’d be generational talents. He’s a blue-chipper. You can see it from Day 1.”
On the Corners
Moseley returned to practice on Friday, and immediately had a PBU.
“You’ve got to get back in the mix of things and to be able to break that pass up gave me the confidence to get back out there,” Moseley said.
Today, he continued working with the first-team unit.
“E-Man has looked pretty good,” Ryans said. “Coming back he’s done a great job. He’s hopped back in, he made a play yesterday. You just see where he fits. He’s a great player for us. He’s done a great job and I just loved the way he came out, had great energy, just showed his love for football, showed it’s all about having fun and making plays. So I love the energy that he brought to us and happy to have E-Man back. His presence is felt, happy to see him back out there.”
Secondary School #49ers #49ersCamp pic.twitter.com/XMH0Ui4uOu
— Tracy Sandler (@49ersfangirl) August 7, 2021
CB Jason Verrett had a couple PBUs today, as he continues to have a really strong training camp.
“It starts mental, his mindset is unmatched,” Moseley said. “What he brings in the film room, he points out things you don’t even see…On the field, he’s just a dog. He’s got the greatest feet ever…I’ve learned a lot from him and I’m going to continue to learn from.”
Verrett is a player that Ryans can use to teach others on defense.
“…[I]t feels like every meeting I have with the defensive group, I’m highlighting J.V. and just showing his consistency and just showing the young guys how it looks to be a true pro and J.V. is that example for the guys in our room,” Ryans said. “And he brings it every day. He competes every day and his work ethic is just unmatched. So, just happy to have him, happy to have him in a really good place where he’s not worried about the history of the injuries or anything like that. He’s playing confident, he’s playing fast, he’s playing physical and it’s exactly what I like to see.”
Notes
- Arik Armstead (groin) missed his second practice in a row, while Samson Ebukam was also out today.
- CB Ken Webster seemed to suffer a left arm injury.
