SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The San Francisco 49ers returned to practice Tuesday at their facility after last week’s joint practices and exhibition game against the Denver Broncos still nursing some injuries.
Among those named by coach Jim Tomsula: WR Torrey Smith (knee contusion), DL Darnell Dockett (rib contusion), CB Tramaine Brock (hamstring), TE Vance McDonald (ankle).
Also, inside linebacker Philip Wheeler, who has been out weeks with a leg muscle strain, was taking part in individual drills, as were Smith and Brock.
Dockett, though, perhaps caused the most consternation with his social media post on Monday saying he had a broken rib. Dockett is in his first season with the 49ers after tearing an ACL last year while with the Arizona Cardinals.
“Yeah, it’s cartilage,” said coach Jim Tomsula. “The crack is in the cartilage, which is treated like a contusion. It’s not the bone. If it was the bone, we would be talking about something different (and more serious).”
As it stands now, the 49ers anticipate Dockett to be ready for the season opener on Sept. 14 against the Minnesota Vikings. With 40.5 career sacks in 10 seasons, he has been working as a pass rusher on the left side in the team’s nickel defense package.
