The San Francisco 49ers kicked off their organized team activities this week. Tuesday was the first day that media was permitted to observe a practice. Two more practices – one on May 30 and the other on June 5 – will be open to the media.
Below are some notes, videos, and more from the team's Tuesday afternoon practice.
Coach Sherman
49ers cornerback Richard Sherman is still working his way back from a torn Achilles sustained in November when he was still with the Seattle Seahawks. The 49ers are being cautious with his recovery and don't expect him to practice with his new teammates until training camp in late-July. However, Sherman has already started running on the practice fields. His recovery seems to be going well with the All-Pro cornerback recently stating that his Achilles "felt great."
"I'll be ready for training camp," Sherman told ESPN's Josina Anderson, "but [the team] is going to be overly cautious either way."
On Tuesday, Sherman, who has not yet been medically cleared, was seen offering a lot of coaching to his fellow defensive backs during team drills.
Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle posted the following video, which shows Sherman working with Ahkello Witherspoon and the 49ers defensive backs.
Coach Richard Sherman, who is not medically cleared, has been offering plenty of instruction to his teammates during DB drills. #49ers pic.twitter.com/eQH6NQ4ydq
— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) May 22, 2018
Richard Sherman is not practicing at #49ers OTAs, but he's locked into every play as the most-observant onlooker. He's constantly talking ball with teammates and coaches.
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) May 22, 2018
Practice Notes
49ers team reporter Joe Fann called Tuesday's practice "fairly mundane," but did note that defensive linemen DeForest Buckner and Solomon Thomas dominated during pass rush drills.
While the Niners aren't in pads during OTAs, they got some strong inside pass rush work from DL Solomon Thomas during one on ones. Thomas won four straight reps against the first and second team offensive line.
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) May 22, 2018
Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee noted that the team's new featured running back, Jerick McKinnon, caught a lot of passes from quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
"Garoppolo-to-McKinnon gonna be staple of offense for coming years," wrote Cam Inman of Bay Area News Group.
Rookie wide receiver Dante Pettis got most of his work in the slot, according to Brad Almquist of KNBR.
Offensive Line Notes
Joshua Garnett spent all of last season on injured reserve.
"We wanted him to take the year to get his body in the best shape possible," said head coach Kyle Shanahan in March.
Garnett started at right guard during Tuesday's 11-on-11 drills with Jonathan Cooper (knee) not participating in practice. Newly signed guard Mike Person also got some work at right guard with the first-team offense.
As expected, rookie Mike McGlinchey started at right tackle. Laken Tomlinson was the left guard.
Linebackers
Malcolm Smith and Korey Toomer were the two starting inside linebackers during practice. Reuben Foster is not with the team as his legal situation continues and newly re-signed Brock Coyle is still recovering from a torn labrum.
Rookie Fred Warner and Elijah Lee played with the second-team defense.
Jimmy Garoppolo
And now what you probably came here for: videos of Garoppolo.
Joe Fann posted the following videos of the 49ers' starting quarterback.
Quick thread of Jimmy Garoppolo passes.
This one a dart to Kendrick Bourne. pic.twitter.com/uPyQnNpqac
— Joe Fann (@Joe_Fann) May 22, 2018
Here's another quick pass from Jimmy Garoppolo to Pierre Garçon.
Probably gonna see this connection a lot in 2018. pic.twitter.com/5R3Xxfcuhx
— Joe Fann (@Joe_Fann) May 22, 2018
One last one:
Jimmy Garoppolo working on his play-action footwork before a deep sideline pass to Marquise Goodwin.
👀 how the ball jumps outta Jimmy's hand. pic.twitter.com/5RbqQnhBPX
— Joe Fann (@Joe_Fann) May 22, 2018
Did Not Practice
The following players did not practice with the 49ers on Tuesday:
CB Richard Sherman
WR Trent Taylor
RB Jeremy McNichols
G Jonathan Cooper
LB Brock Coyle
WR Max McCaffrey
S Chancellor James
