49ers practice report: Rookie Upton Stout, WR Ricky Pearsall continue to impress
ESPN's DraftCast had him at No. 129. Pro Football Focus ranked him No. 197. And the Athletic's Dane Brugler slotted him at No. 204.
Questions emerged. Did the 49ers reach?
General manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan stood their ground. They drafted Stout to take over the nickel spot. Such would allow Deommodore Lenoir to transition outside full-time and man CB1 responsibilities in lieu of Charvarius Ward.
Anyone who's paid attention to 49ers training camp would know Stout has clearly separated himself as the frontrunner to start at nickel. Shanahan confirmed as much Monday.
'I thought he had a hell of a training camp,' Shanahan said. 'Knowing that nickel position was open, that was one of the reasons we invested that draft pick in him, hoping he could come in and do it right away. He looked that way in OTAs and he's looking that way so far now.'
Pearsall appeared dominant in recent practices. Most of the reserve cornerbacks — with Lenoir (hip) and Renardo Green (hamstring) having missed time last week — could not go rep for rep across from the team's 2024 first-round pick, who showed no signs of slowing down Monday when he pulled in a deep ball from Mac Jones more than 30 yards downfield in the opening 11-on-11 period.
But even after Stout lost one of his first reps against Pearsall on a tightly defended comeback route, he played through the whistle, ripped the ball away and made his case for a turnover. A referee on the far sideline ultimately ruled the play dead. Stout got his revenge soon enough.
A pass from Brock Purdy to Pearsall near the boundary did not reach its intended target, thanks to Stout, who swiftly punched it into the grass.
Stout celebrated. The defense rallied around him. Suffice it be said the third-round pick has won over a lot of people in the 49ers building. Give him time to show why on Sundays, and someone might just name an actual beer after him.
Defensive backs coach Ray Brown: '(Stout) said, 'At the end of the day, I want to be a name that they forever talk about in this facility.''
Lenoir, who had missed four consecutive practices due to hip irritation, returned to practice Monday and reclaimed first-team reps in live 11-on-11 periods. Dallis Flowers — in the midst of a CB3 competition with Tre Brown and Darrell Luter Jr. — primarily repped opposite of Lenoir. Starting right tackle Colton McKivitz was also full go after his one-off absence Saturday.
Defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos (knee) is expected to return during Raiders week, according to Shanahan, who last week said cornerback Renardo Green (hamstring) and Jacob Cowing (hamstring) could also be back at practice by then. Gross-Matos was seen working on a side field Monday for the first time since training camp began.
Defensive end Nick Bosa, running back Christian McCaffrey and left tackle Trent Williams rested Monday. Shanahan said Bosa, who also did not practice Saturday, did not miss the most recent session due to injury. All three are expected back in some capacity Tuesday, in anticipation for the team's joint practice with the Broncos on Thursday. Spencer Burford filled in for Williams per usual.
Safety Ji'Ayir Brown (ankle) and defensive tackle Evan Anderson (knee bruise) were among 13 players, not including those on PUP, who did not practice — a reflection of the depth concerns that led to the team's Monday morning release of kicker Greg Joseph, Jake Moody's camp rival. Brown is day-to-day, per Shanahan, who added that Anderson will likely be out for the week. Running back Jordan James (knee) returned but did not participate in team drills, easing back in following four missed practices. Shanahan said he does not anticipate needing to cancel the Broncos joint practice Thursday as camp injuries mount.
Retired All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman, who played for the 49ers from 2018-20, made an appearance at the SAP Performance Facility and briefly chatted with Shanahan. Amid speculation that wide receiver Jauan Jennings may be missing in action at 49ers training camp due to ongoing extension talks, Sherman recently said on his podcast, 'I think they're going to have to appease (Jennings), and I think once they do, there might be a chance that he's back in practice that day. I don't know. It kind of seems that way though.' Shanahan was specifically asked if the situation is 'definitely health related, not business related,' to which he said: 'You can ask him that. He tells me it's his calf. And calf shows, so got to be delicate with those calves.'
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