SANTA CLARA – Christian McCaffrey, sporting a backward ballcap, sprang through traffic at the line of scrimmage and raced through the 49ers’ retooled defense. Top draft pick Mykel Williams, a defensive end, hustled in pursuit 20 yards downfield to draw praise from his coach.
That is how Thursday’s organized team activities fittingly ended: blending a holdover superstar amid the encouraging sight of a young prospect.
This was the 49ers’ first full-team practice – with a very new-looking squad — open to the media since last season left a 6-11, last-place finish.
And it had been six months since McCaffrey was last seen in action during his injury-shortened season, though he’s been present since April’s start of the offseason program.
For all the new arrivals looking to fill vast voids, it’s impossible to overlook the return of the 49ers’ marquee offensive weapon, all due respect to the steady sights of Brock Purdy and George Kittle fresh off signing contract extensions. The 49ers should be ecstatic that McCaffrey is running at full speed and without visible pain, albeit with no tackling or full contact permitted.
He is not among the injured players deemed out until training camp, a group including wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (hamstring) and safety Ji’Ayir Brown (ankle). Left tackle Trent Williams is the only veteran star not present, as he’s working out at his Houston gym before an expected arrival at mandatory minicamp in two weeks.
“Right now he’s as healthy as can be,” coach Kyle Shanahan said of McCaffrey. “We have to protect him from himself. But Christian has a good idea of what he needs to do right now.
“He’s doing a lot less than he normally would do,” Shanahan added. “I know he’s excited about as healthy as he is and he’s happy to get out there.”
McCaffrey bypassed last year’s voluntary workouts, signed a two-year extension at June’s mandatory minicamp, then, once the season arrived, missed the first two months because of Achilles tendinitis. In his fourth game back, he injured his right knee’s posterior cruciate ligament in the Buffalo snow just as he neared his old form.
McCaffrey got four touches – an early reception against linebacker Dee Winters, followed by three runs up the middle – during the hour of team drills, with no helmets allowed during the 11-on-11 work.
“Having Christian out there is awesome and he’s still really, really good at running the football,” said Kittle, noting that McCaffrey has spoken up and been engaged in team activities as an emerging leader.
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NOTES
— Purdy looked comfortably in command of the offense and didn’t break from his usual, even-keel ways nearly two weeks after landing his six-year, $265 million extension. Shanahan said that contract stopped being a point of discussion after its May 16 agreement. “We were out of town so I called him from a boat to congratulate him, and we messed around a couple of minutes,” Shanahan said. “I haven’t talked to him about it since. When I see him in person, it’s not something we think about. … I want him to be the leader he’s always been. There’s no worse thing than to ask someone to do something extra because of a contract.”
— Team drills opened with Jauan Jennings catching a Purdy pass against Renardo Green’s coverage, the first of a team-high six catches by Jennings, who was verbally reminded by Purdy to keep running through a crossing route on a rare incompletion. Jennings is entering the final year of his contract and coming off a 975-yard season. “Jauan is still on fire, which is fun to see,” Kittle said.
— No rookies from the 11-man draft class lined up with the first-string unit, but Shanahan noted how he loves the group and has not had to call any into his office for guidance. The starting defensive front showcased Nick Bosa lining up next to Elliott, Kevin Givens and Sam Okuayinonu. Williams lined up opposite Bosa later in practice.
— Spencer Burford, formerly a starting right guard, and Austen Pleasants worked at left tackle in place of Williams. Ben Bartch was inserted at left guard in place of Aaron Banks, who signed with the Green Bay Packers in free agency.
— Fred Warner, fresh off signing a three-year extension, did not practice but did help tutor and motivate others from the sideline. The first-string linebackers were Winters, Tatum Bethune and Luke Gifford, followed by rookies Nick Martin and Stone Blanton.
— With Brown (ankle surgery) and Malik Mustapha (ACL recovery) sidelined, veteran additions Jason Pinnock and Richie Grant lined up as a potential starting tandem at safety.
— Defensive tackle Alfred Collins, who is still unsigned, worked on the side as he deals with a left-calf issue. Fifth-round draft pick Marques Sigle also has an unspecified injury that will keep him sidelined until training camp.
— Defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos took a personal day as an expectant father, Shanahan said.
— Leading the receivers through drills were Jauan Jennings, Demarcus Robinson, Jacob Cowing, and Terique Owens. Cowing dropped a Purdy pass near the sideline against Tre Brown’s coverage, but Cowing later held onto a Purdy pass that Chase Lucas tried to punch free. Watkins, a fourth-round pick, had three receptions and fielded punts alongside Jacob Cowing and Junior Bergen.
— A day after the 49ers signed Mitch Wishnowsky was released in favor of new punter Thomas Morstead, Shanahan expressed his fondness for Wishnowski: “I love Mitch. He’s one of my favorite guys I’ve been around. Such a football player. Guys love him.” The 49ers made the switch, Shanahan said, because of a confluence of factors, including Wishnowsky’s cap figure ($2.3 million) and the fact Morstead became available to reunite with special teams coordinator Brant Boyer after being together on the New York Jets.
— Tre Brown, who’ll compete with rookie Upton Stout at nickel back, intercepted Purdy’s jump-ball pass targeted to Kittle while under pressure from Bosa.
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