San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk addressed the media on Monday for his first training camp availability, coinciding with the team's first padded practice of the summer. With the intensity ramping up ahead of the 2025 season, Juszczyk admitted he was eager for the added physicality.
"It was fun," Juszczyk said. "I really felt like I was craving it. I said to [RB] Christian [McCaffrey] a couple of days ago, 'I'm really excited for some physicality. It's been a long time.' So it was fun to go out there and be able to hit somebody."
Juszczyk went on to share his thoughts on several of his 49ers teammates and how they have looked during training camp.
Mac Jones adjusting to Kyle Shanahan's offense
Quarterback Mac Jones is learning Kyle Shanahan's complex offensive system for the first time after signing a two-year deal with San Francisco this offseason. It remains a work in progress, but Juszczyk believes Jones has the intelligence necessary to flourish.
"I think he's well on his way," Juszczyk said. "I think he's doing a good job of picking things up. ... It is not an easy offense to just walk in here and understand everything. A lot of it is just getting in and out of the huddle, and just understanding how many calls [there are].
"Formations and motions are just so big in this offense. I know that's usually where you see guys struggle early on, but I feel like he continues to get better at it. And he seems like a really cerebral, smart guy, and I'm sure he'll have a good grasp of it here very soon."
Ricky Pearsall's return from injury
Second-year wide receiver Ricky Pearsall returned to practice on Sunday after being sidelined by a hamstring injury. Despite participating in only two sessions, Juszczyk remains optimistic about Pearsall's potential impact.
"I know he was itching to get out there earlier," Juszczyk said. "I think he probably could have been out there when we first started, but I think sometimes it's good to protect guys from themselves, and maybe just take that extra day or two to make sure everything is great.
"But we're going to need a lot from Ricky this year. He's going to be a guy that we're going to count on. He's a guy that we're hoping to just come out there and consistently make plays like that every day."
Jauan Jennings' commitment despite contract situation
Veteran receiver Jauan Jennings left Sunday's practice with a calf injury and did not participate Monday. However, Jennings has been present throughout camp, even after expressing frustration with his contract situation.
Jennings is an important part of the offense's identity. Juszczyk praised the wideout's dedication and energy.
"He just wants to play," Juszczyk said. "Jauan's a football player, and I think that's the biggest compliment you can give anybody in this building, is to say they're just a football player. Jauan's a guy that we all feed off of—his energy, his physicality, his ability to get open, make big plays when we need him.
"Jauan is one of us, and we love him. We hope he gets whatever he deserves, and then, we can keep cruising forward with him."