Things got a little heated at the TCO Performance Center in Eagan, Minnesota, during Thursday's joint practice between the San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings. According to Sam Ekstrom of the Locked On network, wide receiver Adam Thielen took exception to the aggressiveness of the 49ers defense and the way players were taking Vikings running backs to the ground.
"Had to be held back," Ekstrom wrote via Twitter. "Plenty of tension during [11-on-11 drills] today."
Adam Thielen just rushed the field, taking exception with the 49ers taking #Vikings running backs to the ground. Had to be held back. Plenty of tension during 11s today.
— Sam Ekstrom (@SamEkstrom) August 18, 2022
Brad Graham of TheSFNiners caught the following video of something that nearly escalated into a scuffle. However, it was quickly defused before that could happen.
A little extra after the play early in team period #49ers pic.twitter.com/G3GxUZc8Je
— Brad (@Graham_SFN) August 18, 2022
"I told the guys we had a great [practice] yesterday, but today we had to try to pick up the intensity even another step," 49ers linebacker Fred Warner said after Thursday's practice. "I think the guys rose to the challenge. We were hitting them; we were throwing them to the ground, so a little bit chippy, but that's just how we play, man. We just going to be physical; we going to be violent. That's just how we play."
And that's how they practice, too, apparently. So while Thielen may not be happy, it's good that things didn't escalate further. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell emphasized that scuffles between the two teams would not be tolerated.
"Yeah, that's a pretty big emphasis," Shanahan said on Wednesday. "I just have a deal with Kevin. If anyone throws a punch, we're going to kick him out of practice, and we know how important it is to get this practice work right now. And that's always stressed because we need to practice, and if you fight, you're going to be out of there, so do everything you can to not."
49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans saw no issues with how his defense practiced on Thursday.
"I think it's a different style from what their defense [does]," Ryans explained. "Going against our guys, we attack. We're an attack-first mentality, so it's a different style. I know for their scheme, for their offense, and our defense going against them, we're going to practice hard. Our guys are going to be physical. That's how we practice each and every day. We have a standard at which we work every day, and that's what you saw today. We're just playing to our standard."
Warner went on to say that he thought things were fine between the two teams.
"No fights, no nothing, so we'll be alright," he added.
