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Yahoo Sports’ senior NFL reporter Charles Robinson is on the road covering training camp. Today’s stop: the San Francisco 49ers.
About the QB
Brock Purdy spent the offseason in Florida getting stronger, resulting in a thicker lower body and more strength in his game. He also came back with a more vocal mindset, intent on conveying to his teammates that he wants to be a dominant quarterback. The mindset hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Newbie to watch out for
Ricky Pearsall’s early-season soft tissue issues are an indication that he overtrained in the preseason. The challenge for the 49ers is to scale back his pre-camp work. For some very fit athletes, this can become a persistent problem. The franchise will work to prevent that from happening.
Keeping my eyes on
Third-round pick Dominick Puni is being tested at right guard, with injuries to Jon Feliciano and Spencer Burford opening the door to meaningful practices for at least a few weeks. Whether or not Puni replaces veterans as a starter, he’ll get the kind of preseason work that should speed the addition of youth at that position in 2024.
Fantasy thought
Running back Jordan Mason is one of the first options on the roster, having gotten off to an impressive start in training camp and suddenly pushing Elijah Mitchell for the job behind Christian McCaffrey. Mason played sparingly over the past two seasons with the 49ers but capitalized on the opportunities. Head coach Kyle Shanahan is watching his performance closely.
What I saw that was interesting
Purdy started Tuesday strong, throwing beautiful passes that made him tick. Then he finished the day with four interceptions. It could have been five if not for a play by Fred Warner. It’s a concern at times, I think Purdy was intentionally taking the ball to the edge, trying to see what he could do with his arm.
Wildcard
The 49ers need Brandon Aiyuk. With Purdy’s likely contract extension changing the dynamic of the roster beyond 2024, this is a crucial season on the brink of uncertainty. And that four-year, $110 million contract signed by Bears wide receiver DJ Moore sends a clear message: Aiyuk’s target of $28 million per season is valid in this market.
