SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- A daily review of the hot topics coming out of San Francisco 49ers training camp:
The 49ers went in helmets and shorts in practice No. 14 on Thursday and, overall, it was not as eventful as the previous two days in pads, as far as skirmishes go. Left tackle Joe Staley got a veteran’s day off (Patrick Miller worked at left tackle with the first-team offense) while rookie linebacker Eli Harold sat out with what was described as a muscle strain. Glenn Dorsey again sat out again with a muscle strain.
For the second day in a row Keith Reaser replaced Shareece Wright at a cornerback positon. Also Kenneth Acker has seemingly moved ahead of Dontae Johnson in the 49ers’ nickel defense at a corner.
Outside linebacker Aaron Lynch, who is still rounding himself into shape after missing most of the offseason program and camp with hamstring and back issues, left practice early with a trainer. Lynch was at left outside linebacker in the team's first-team defense, with Ahmad Brooks at Aldon Smith’s old spot at right outside linebacker.
No, the 49ers were not in pads, but for the second day in a row inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman practiced without a brace on his surgically-repaired left knee. No word yet on if he will play in Sunday’s exhibition at Levi’s Stadium against the Dallas Cowboys.
The 49ers spent a good portion of practice working on goal-line situations, and the prettiest near-play was turned in by undrafted rookie receiver DeAndrew White, who almost came up with a one-handed grab in the back of the end zone on a bullet thrown by Colin Kaepernick. White, coming from east to west, got both feet inbounds but lost control of the ball as he hit the grass.
Random observation of the day? Kaepernick, in team drills, giving the football the Dan Pastorini pat-pat-pat in the pocket while waiting for a receiver to come open. That’s not a good thing as defenders are usually closing in by the third "pat."
Finally, the near-perfect storm came on a play in the right flat when Bowman, covering Reggie Bush, nearly had a sideline collision with ESPN NFL analyst Trent Dilfer, who was talking with 49ers general manager Trent Baalke. If the possibility of Bowman getting injured in a collision with a spectator is not enough to scare the 49ers, a hard-thrown ball by Kaepernick on the play appeared to jam a finger or two on Bush’s right hand. Bush never left practice and continued to catch punts, but it was obvious the hand was bothering him as he yelled on the play and continued to shake it throughout. Bowman and Bush injured on the same play? That would have been the perfect storm. The hard-throwing Kaepernick, who has been working on his touch and accuracy, has injured digits on the hands of receiver Quinton Patton and running back Mike Davis in the past year.
The 49ers practice again Friday at 3:20 p.m. ET.
A few things I Tweeted out Thursday:
#49ers Jarryd Hayne staves off camp boredom, likes to "muck around with the lads." pic.twitter.com/KamryPMXQY
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) August 20, 2015#49ers QB Colin Kaepernick works on the rollout pass pic.twitter.com/TloPsoJQvx
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) August 20, 2015#49ers QB Colin Kaepernick works on the exchange with RB Carlos Hyde pic.twitter.com/RAlcfhwiRJ
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) August 21, 2015#49ers QB Colin Kaepernick rolls to his left pic.twitter.com/AS111JRNa9
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) August 21, 2015