The San Francisco 49ers have two more days of training camp, and today’s mid-week affair was an eventful one.
Richard Sherman
Early on in today’s practice, cornerback Richard Sherman, and the 49ers defense, had a scary moment when Sherman appeared to have his left heel stepped on. Sherman was clearly in pain, as teammates, general manager John Lynch, defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and head coach Kyle Shanahan all came over. Luckily, Sherman was able to get up and move around, and crisis was averted.
“I was hoping it was nothing serious with what he was grabbing,” said defensive coordinator Robert Saleh on a Zoom call with the media after practice. “I got a little nervous for him, but once we got over there, realized that when he talked through what he had gone through, saw there was no concern. It was more of a relief than anything, but just worried for him more than anything…He just needs a little bit of rehab, a little treatment. He’ll be all right.”
Sherman went on to intercept quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo for what would have been an over 90-yard pick-6. It was the third time Sherman has intercepted Garoppolo in training camp.
Jimmy Garoppolo
Speaking of QB1, the Sherman interception was one of three today, the others coming off tipped passes that fell into the hands of SS Johnathan Cyprien and DT Javon Kinlaw, respectively.
During a red-zone period, Garoppolo started 3-of-7 (thee three picks were in here), but the quarterback bounced back to the tune of three touchdowns, one each to Trent Taylor, Kendrick Bourne and Dante Pettis. His final completion of the period was to newcomer Tavon Austin, who was just shy of a touchdown.
A Couple Scuffles
Today’s practice was certainly lively and heated, which was evident with two scuffles.
“Those guys always get heated,” Saleh said. I don’t look at it any other way than guys competing, as long as they understand and keep your helmet on, don’t take punches to the face. If you guys get into a little shoving match, I don’t read anything into it other than people competing…You trust that those little scuffles are a product of competition rather than just people being bad individuals, where they’re deliberately trying to hurt people…So, when our guys scuffle, I really don’t look into it any further than the fact that they’re just competing their butts off and it’s not malicious…I know that when push comes to shove, every single one of those guys have each other’s back.”
The first was between Kinlaw and offensive lineman Jared Jones-Smith, and it was short and sweet (well, maybe not sweet, but short).
Later, things got heated, twice, between LB Fred Warner and RB Raheem Mostert.
First, Warner gave Mostert a really big hug (sarcasm) at the end of a run and then the two collided later. Words were exchanged, shoving ensued and teammates intervened.
“That’s just him man,” said safety Jimmie Ward about Warner. “You know, I call him All-Pro Fred. It’s just his whole demeanor…[H]e wants to be the best guy out there. I feel like that’s what everybody wants to do, but it’s just iron sharpens iron. We guys, we’re great friends off the football field, but you know when you’re on the football field. Raheem, he wants to score and Fred, he doesn’t want him to score, doesn’t want him to get any yards..So both of them are just doing their job.”
News and Notes
- In his second padded practice, tight end Jordan Reed beat SS Jaquiski Tartt twice in one-on-one drills.
- Tight end George Kittle spent the last 30 minutes of practice working with a trainer on a side field. The 49ers had no injury updates so doesn’t seem like anything to worry about.
- FB Kyle Juszczyk did not practice and neither did SS Marcell Harris.