Ty Davis-Price might be a San Francisco 49ers player you forgot about. That's probably because you didn't see too much of the running back during his rookie season last year. Davis-Price only had 34 total carries in 2022, racking up 99 rushing yards through 70 total offensive snaps.
Davis-Price is one of those players who has reportedly stood out during the early training camp practices. Although, it's tough to judge running backs (or many players) before the pads go on.
A reporter asked offensive line and run game coordinator Chris Foerster about the second-year running back and what the coach saw from the player during the first week of training camp.
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"He looks great. I mean, he looks really good," Foerster responded. "Obviously, we've talked before about guys between their first and their second year make one of the biggest jumps. They know what to expect. They know what camp's going to be like. They know what their shortfalls were. They went through a whole offseason of being corrected on things they needed to work on. They come back out for camp, and they're ready to go. And he looks great right now."
The 49ers have a crowded running back room with Christian McCaffrey, the featured player. They also have Elijah Mitchell, Jordan Mason, and others. So Davis-Price might have to fight to prove himself over the coming weeks.
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What does the young running back need to work on to ensure he sticks around in 2023?
"Just the whole process, learning how to be a professional, learn how to come to work every day, and be the consistency factor," Foerster answered. "And he works very, very hard. He's a very hard worker, learning the offense. Sometimes you get behind the eight ball early. It doesn't all ever make sense through the course of the year. And having a chance to sit back, relearn it in the offseason, and then get back out there and apply it during the season can really be helpful. So he's really done a good job with that.
"Also, some of his running, open field running, and things like that, just making the adjustment from college to the NFL. He's a good, hard, tough runner, but again, a little bit of the elusiveness. Hitting the holes with more consistency, like with speed and trusting, knowing what he's looking for, knowing what he sees, and doing those things. It's all coming together for him."
The roster cut-down is a long way out. It's too early to draw conclusions about young players like Davis-Price, a third-round draft pick. That's why the next month will be crucial for those who want to climb the depth chart.
"Again, we're [only] a couple practices in," Foerster reminded reporters.
