CAPTAIN SANTA CLARA: The San Francisco 49ers had a softer practice on Saturday in colder weather, following their most taxing training camp workout to far. But Brock Purdy, the quarterback, was still getting hot.
Purdy had just three interceptions on Sunday after capping the marathon on Saturday with a neat two-minute drive that included a flawless back-shoulder touchdown pass to receiver Jauan Jennings. Two of those were terrific throws that were dropped. Despite missing two of its best targets, wide out Brandon Aiyuk and fellow wideout Deebo Samuel took their first veteran day off from camp, allowing the 49ers’ pass offense to settle into a comfortable rhythm.
“(Missing those two) makes me play quarterback really efficiently,” Purdy said after practice. “When they’re on the field, my antenna’s up. If I do get this look, I’m more like likely to throw to Aiyuk or Deebo. So a day like this was good for me to go through all my reads.”
The end result: Chris Conley and Ronnie Bell, two wide receivers who have been productive this camp but do not get as much attention as their more well-known peers, received impressive receptions. Bell made two challenged catches, one of which was on an unscheduled cross-body pass from Purdy as the quarterback ducked to his left to avoid edge rusher Leonard Floyd.
Conley plays Aiyuk’s “X” receiver position, so he’s occupying a particularly important role during the latter’s contract standoff. Conley had only five catches last season, but two came in the playoffs. That included a huge 17-yard grab from Purdy on the 49ers’ game-winning drive against the Green Bay Packers.
“He has that veteran mindset — he’s smart,” Purdy said. “He knows the details of our offense. He knows where he needs to be in terms of the timing, the concepts, the plays. Chris has that older veteran-ness to him.”
Brock Purdy to Chris Conley — a very reliable connection for the 49ers going back to the playoffs and stretching into this training camp pic.twitter.com/wcVsnaMbtA
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) August 4, 2024
That playoff catch versus Green Bay was a perfect example of timing and rapport. The fact that Purdy completed the throw on the deep out before Conley finished his break shows that the quarterback and target have mutual trust.
Purdy stressed on Sunday that building a relationship like that with his receivers takes time. Although it is evident that he and Conley click — the wide receiver caught a crosser in stride the day after Purdy found him deep for a 60-yard touchdown — the 49ers will need to invest this month in developing other relationships.
According to Purdy, it usually takes “a couple weeks” for new receivers to become adjusted, and if and when Aiyuk’s contract status is settled, it will probably take some time for them to get back into rhythm. With rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, who made two additional catches on Sunday, the 49ers are in the preparation window.
“I think he’s getting better and better, just more comfortable within our offense, but I think we need more reps to throw him the ball, need more opportunities and looks,” Purdy said. “And that’ll come. I’m confident in that.
” … We have to go over so much detail within our routes, our concepts, our timing, all of that. It’s not a couple days and you feel good and you’re ready to play a game. It takes time, especially in our offense and our scheme.”
For this reason, the 49ers are especially appreciative of Purdy’s relative stability at the quarterback position this season. Purdy spent camp last season recuperating from elbow surgery. Even though he was the NFL’s most highly regarded quarterback at the end of the season, there were undoubtedly some bumps and growing pains during the dog days of August.
This time, the procedure has been more precise, as demonstrated by the insightful session on Sunday. Purdy, who is firmly established now, described how, in 2024, he will transition to more specialized areas of interest.
“I have to find ways to be uncomfortable and still walk in the huddle, command it, break it — and not just think that the game’s easy because it’s not,” Purdy said, before offering an example of an added challenge he’s taken on at practice this year. “The play clock (is on now), so I’m not thinking about the play all day. I have that sense of urgency now. ‘Hey, let’s go, we don’t have time.’ Let’s make it more realistic. That’s the level I’m at now.”
Odds & ends
• Missing practice were Samuel, linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, defensive lineman Sam Okuayinonu, tight end Logan Thomas, running backs Elijah Mitchell and Isaac Guerendo, punter Mitch Wishnowsky, cornerback Darrell Luter Jr., and offensive linemen Ben Bartch, Spencer Burford, and Pat Elflein.
Throughout the course of the two practices, Wishnowsky has missed field goals due to an unidentified injury. Fullback Kyle Juszczyk has covered for kicker Jake Moody.
On the side of the field, Burford, Martin, and Cowing all performed sprints. It is anticipated that Martin and Cowing will recuperate from their hamstring strains this week.
• With Flannigan-Fowles out, the 49ers’ two second-year linebackers, Dee Winters and Jalen Graham, received some first-team play at the Sam linebacker position.
“They’re just getting better because it’s starting to click for them,” 49ers defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen said after practice. “And I talk about, speed, violence and finish. To me, a lot of speed is, yeah, you run fast, but speed is also your preparation and your knowledge of the game. Because you hear veteran guys say it all the time, ‘how the game slowed down for me.’
“You look so much faster because it did slow down, because now you’re more comfortable and you’re understanding. Now you anticipate based on motions and alignments and the stuff happens as you think it should happen, now you can go make plays. That’s where you see Dee almost had a pick today in that backed-up period because again, the game’s slowing down and he’s playing faster. Same with Jalen.”
(Photo: D. Ross Cameron / USA Today)
