SANTA CLARA – One week into organized team activities and we’re now qualified to make educated guesses at these rapid-fire questions in our latest 49ers mailbag:
Do you see the team signing a veteran WR now that Ricky might be out with a hamstring till training camp? (@SFG_soccer)
General manager John Lynch, appearing Friday on KNBR 680-AM, said the 49ers are exercising caution for Pearsall’s “tweaked” hamstring (for a second straight summer), but they have full confidence in him after admiring his offseason work habits. The 49ers don’t feel compelled to add a veteran receiver thanks to what Lynch called a “a lot of quality and a lot of competition,” with Jacob Cowing, rookie Jordan Hawkins and newcomer Demarcus Robinson stepping up to complement current WR1 Jauan Jennings.
As for Brandon Aiyuk’s knee recovery, Lynch noted: “Brandon is tracking in a good way with his knee. You have to let that play out. We’re not putting him out there until he’s ready.”
How bad is our O-line going to be? (@Dan82523)
It’s so easy to say that depends on Trent Williams’ durability. He bypassed this week’s voluntary OTAs, but he looks to have regained his agility, via a social-media post from his Houston gym. Flanking Williams likely will be left guard Ben Bartch, center Jake Brendel, right guard Dominick Puni and right tackle Colton McKivitz.
It’s not a flawless unit, nor is any in the NFL. But if/when Williams misses time, the 49ers could be in trouble unless they find a true gem of a swing tackle in Austen Pleasants, converted guard Spencer Burford or newcomer Andre Dillard, the latter of whom wasn’t seen at Thursday’s media access.
With the injuries to J’Ayir Brown and Malik Mustapha, what are the 49ers’ plans at safety? (@shon_khan86)
Free-agent additions Jason Pinnock and Richie Grant exuded a veteran presence on the first string in OTAs, but each allowed a Purdy completion on back-to-back snaps. Jaylon Mahoney and Siran Neal were second-stringers.
Not practicing because of injury were Brown (ankle surgery) and Mustapha (ACL rehab), as well as veteran George Odum and rookie Marques Sigle. Talanoa Hufanga is now on the Denver Broncos), so Lynch may need to add another veteran safety … or take off his Hall of Fame jacket and unretire.
What is the level of concern within the building as to the number of injuries in recent years? For as many changes that were made, I’m surprised the strength and conditioning department wasn’t also overhauled as well. (@somesportstake)
This is a lazy question anytime the 49ers’ injuries spike in a losing season. Injuries happen, especially on bad teams. Nobody is being rushed back this spring, judging from the dozen or so guys working on the side Thursday. This offseason, the 49ers promoted Dustin Perry to vice president of player health and performance, after previously leading their strength and conditioning program since 2019.
What’s your early take on their #1 draft choice, M Williams? (@michael_budd)
“M” stands for Mykel. Or maybe “Marvelous?” Aside from his obvious physical skills, he appears a willing student, eager to learn from position coach Kris Kocurek in drills and from Nick Bosa on the side.
From your perspective, how does this new defensive line stack up against last year’s from a purely physical perspective. (@NickBosaROY)
It’s a work in progress, so much so that the 49ers are reportedly trading for pass rusher Bryce Huff, who floundered as a Philadelphia Eagles high-priced acquisition last season after racking up a career-high 10 sacks in 2023 for Robert Saleh’s New York Jets. Second-round pick Alfred Collins won’t join practices until training camp, presuming his left-calf issue is cured. Jordan Elliott showed improved burst Thursday, but remember, no pads or full contact is allowed. Make no mistake, Kocurek is going to maximize whatever talent is under his purview.
Does Mykel Williams look more like Bosa did his rookie year or Kinlaw? (@DromedariusGB)
He’s more ready to produce like Bosa did as the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. However, Bosa overcame injuries to that title: hamstring strain in his second OTA shut him down until training camp, then he sustained a high-ankle sprain 10 practices into camp. Javon Kinlaw came in with knee issues and giant expectations to replace DeForest Buckner.
How’d West and Stout look? Did Green get picked on today like people were saying? (@PURDYSZN49)
Defensive tackle C.J. West and nickel back Upton Stout make up for their lack of size with obvious hustle. As for Green, he enters his second season as a projected starter, and the 49ers certainly peppered him in coverage on Thursday. He wasn’t wildly out of position, he gave up a couple of catches to Jennings, and he did make a nice sideline pass break-up against Russell Gage Jr.
CMC was reported as losing a step and noticeably slower. Please debunk this rubbish. @TheeThrill22) How does CMC look compared to last season? (@f1acog)
McCaffrey, in his first public action in six months, ran with familiar determination and burst that should – and does – have the 49ers excited. Lynch saw the same positive signs while standing deep in the defensive backfield next to injured safety Malik Mustapha at Thursday’s practice.
“He looks bouncy, he looks explosive,” Lynch said on KNBR. “… He’s looking great out here. Kyle (Shanahan) said it yesterday, that the biggest thing with Christian is we have to pull back the reigns. … He’s raring and ready to go. He looks great out here. He’s extremely motivated to have a Christian McCaffrey-type year.”
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His 5-foot-9, 208-pound frame is the running back corps’ slightest, although fellow rookie Corey Kiner is 5-9, 209. Both were at the end of Thursday’s warmup rotation, and neither got a carry in the team drills. Better judgments come with pads on in training camp and the preseason, but I’d expect James to push for the QB3 role behind McCaffrey and Isaac Guerendo, though Patrick Taylor Jr. will compete.
What players stood out to you the most? (@kendrick_mausisa) Anyone stick out as they have reshaped their body this offseason ? (@lowbridge)
These are essentially passing camps. Three wide receivers jumped out at me — Jauan Jennings, James Hodkins and Isaiah Hodgins – while tight ends Brayden Willis and Mason Pline did, too.
As for physical appearances, the 49ers’ most important body part — outside of McCaffrey’s legs — is Brock Purdy’s elbow, which got hurt again in last season’s penultimate game. He was winging passes around Thursday in convincing fashion. They should give him a raise. Oh, they did.
At OTA’s with so many new guys and returning players, which group were your eyes most focussed on? (@etabeyta)
D-line. Then O-line, wide receiver, and this may throw you off but safety.
Any thoughts on Mac Jones/Kurtis Rourke? (@Hendrix_ihx)
Jones seems servicable. Rourke is a redshirt.
Was Collins at OTAs (@leglizzyglazer)
Collins, the second-round pick, was doing conditioning on the side with a sleeve over his left-calf issue.
How good is Nick Martin? (@tjones425)
To be determined once linebackers are allowed to hit objects carrying footballs. Fred Warner raved about him, but this is the time of year everybody comes with a dazzling letter of recommendation.
Who will replace Charvarius Ward? (@andrew.liu.87)
Renardo Green has the first shot, as he did last season as a rookie. Tre Avery, Tre Brown and Dallis Flowers have my attention, too.
Are the new scoreboards installed at Levi’s yet? If so, what do they look like. (@KatzManDoIt)
Scaffolding surrounds the super-sized screens at both ends of the stadium. Meanwhile, the sod remains gone and piles of dirt are astrewn, months into a significant resurfacing. They’ve got three weeks to sweep things up before Metallica’s tour arrives (PS:
The preseason opener is Aug. 9 there against the Denver Broncos, but Levi’s Stadium has only three weeks to sweep things up before Metallica’s tour arrives (which reminds me that I need tickets for my son and I).
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