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for safety Jimmie Ward, San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan discussed a number of other players during a press conference held following the team's first practice of training camp.
Below are some of the players who Shanahan discussed while addressing Bay Area media on Friday
Jaquiski Tartt
Jaquiski Tartt filled in for Ward during Friday's practice.
"I think he's come a long way since we first got here," Shanahan said. "He's gotten in great shape. He did that throughout phase one, two, and three. He came back yesterday even in better shape. I'm really excited about him. He's a guy who can run and hit. We'll see how he plays in the system and how fast he can play once he gets out there."
Tim Hightower
Following the 2011 season, running back
Tim Hightower missed three NFL seasons due to an infection in his surgically-repaired left knee. Over the past two seasons – both with the New Orleans Saints – Hightower has played in 24 games and started four. In those games, he has carried the football 229 times for 923 yards rushing and eight touchdowns.
"We're giving Tim an opportunity as much as everyone else," Shanahan said.
"I had Tim in Washington for four games," Shanahan continued. "He did real good in those four games. He had a real bad injury, tearing his ACL...I remember when I went to Cleveland, I tried to get him out there for a workout. I don't think I could but I definitely tried. I tried the same in Atlanta too so he's a guy that we've been waiting to look at."
Shanahan went on to say that he has had an opportunity to see him over the past two seasons since the Falcons played the Saints twice each year.
"If anybody knows Tim, he's a guy that you never count out," Shanahan said.
Solomon Thomas
Shanahan said that rookie defensive lineman,
Solomon Thomas,
who officially signed his four-year contract on Friday, would be "ready to go" for Saturday's practice.
"If he had gotten in a little bit earlier today, we would have had him go out there today," Shanahan said. "Solomon is a guy who's in shape. I'll talk to (strength and conditioning coach) Ray Wright because he came out towards the beginning of practice. I know Ray worked him out. I believe he took him through our conditioning test."
Reuben Foster
Rookie linebacker
Reuben Foster took part in team drills for the first time this offseason. On Wednesday,
he was medically cleared to fully participate in training camp practices. Shanahan said that it was good to get Foster, who hauled in the 49ers' first interception of training camp, out there and that he looked good in practice.
"It's good to see him go through it at full speed," Shanahan said.
Brian Hoyer
Brian Hoyer entered training camp as the presumptive starter for the 49ers. While there has been much talk about Hoyer being a bridge quarterback until the 49ers can acquire a franchise player, Hoyer has insisted that his focus is on this season and not beyond.
"Just being around Brian, I think Brian believes in himself," Shanahan said. "Brian wants an opportunity and that's what he's looking for year in and year out...He wants to play and he wants to be out there. I think guys feel that. When guys know that guys are doing everything they can to get in the game, get in the battle, those are guys that people will respond to and play hard for."
Shanahan went on to say that Hoyer knows he has a great opportunity to prove he can be the 49ers' guy at quarterback. The team will focus on 2017 and then reevaluate after that, as they'll do with every player on the roster.
"I just know that I'm happy he's here and I think we've got a quarterback who gives us a chance to win," Shanahan said.
The San Francisco 49ers will hold a mandatory minicamp from June 4 through 6, officially concluding the team's offseason program. After that, the Niners will break for over a month and return to the Santa Clara facilities for training camp in late July.
Between that time, starting quarterbacks will often organize throwing sessions with their receivers in an effort to build chemistry ahead of the rigors of training camp. 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy has been unable to participate in such sessions over the last two years. The last overall draft pick in 2022, Purdy had yet to make a name for himself during his first offseason. Last year, he was still recovering from offseason surgery on his throwing arm.
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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy threw for a franchise-record 4,280 yards last season, leading the team to the Super Bowl and earning his first Pro Bowl selection. He held onto the football 39 times on the ground, rushing for 144 yards and scoring twice. This marked a significant improvement over his rookie 2022 campaign when he had 22 carries for 13 yards and a score.
Purdy further displayed his athleticism during the 49ers' playoff game against the Detroit Lions last season, helping engineer a comeback victory while rushing for 48 yards on five carries.
On Tuesday morning, Purdy joined the "Pat McAfee Show," acknowledging that he believes he can contribute more rushing yards if called upon. However, that decision rests with head coach Kyle Shanahan,
It is less than two weeks away from the 2024 NFL Draft, and the San Francisco 49ers finally have a first-round draft pick, after not having one the last two years. Who will they select? Will it be a defensive player? An offensive player? They could use help on the offensive line and in the secondary and defensive line. And they may also have multiple holes to fill a year from now.
Either way, the 49ers need to hit on these draft picks, especially in the early rounds, where they haven't always been at their best. John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan have some first-round misses, like DT Solomon Thomas and LB Rueben Foster. But are those the worst first-round picks in team history? Neither made this list, though some will argue that Thomas should be on it, mainly because he was taken
The San Francisco 49ers announced the signing of wide receiver Trent Taylor to a one-year deal, reuniting with the team's former fifth-round draft pick out of Louisiana Tech.
Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area was the first to report that the 49ers were discussing a potential reunion with Taylor. The receiver was part of head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch's first draft class in 2017 and spent his first four NFL seasons with the team.
The #49ers are talking with free-agent slot receiver/return man
