49ers’ rookie defensive lineman can make tackles and music
Darrion Daniels is a 311pound NFL defensive tackle who performed in his high school’s show choir (think “Glee”), was named the Male Vocalist of the Year in the Dallas/Fort Worth area as a teenager and regaled reporters with songs from Stevie Wonder and Boyz II Men at Big 12 Media Day in 2018.
The tackling tenor is unique for another reason: Daniels is an undrafted rookie who received a sixfigure salary — including his signing bonus — from the 49ers in April.
That’s a significant sum for a player who wasn’t among the 255 who were selected in the sevenround draft. In fact, it was the largest salary the 49ers gave to a member of their nineman undrafted rookie class.
Daniels, who was expected to be a lateround pick, was pursued by other teams, but he chose the 49ers because they were singing a different tune: They gave him $105,000 guaranteed.
“It showed that they were invested me,” Daniels said. “It showed me that they didn’t expect me to come in to just be a camp body. I realized I needed to come in with the mindset that I had the ability to play, not as a free agent, but put in the work of a draft pick and come in thinking that I
It began with a scare and it ended with a score.
Yes, the 49ers’ trainingcamp practice Wednesday was an eventful session for AllPro cornerback Richard Sherman, 32, who had a lengthofthefield picksix about an hour after he went down with what appeared to be a potential serious injury to his surgically repaired Achilles tendon.
Sherman did have a slight hitch in his gait throughout practice, but defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said he was “fine.”
“He just needs a little bit of rehab, a little treatment,” Saleh said. “He’ll be all right.”
Sherman went down when he got tangled with strong safety Jaquiski Tartt during individual drills. Sherman was quickly surrounded by the team’s defensive backs, trainers and, eventually, a group that included head coach Kyle Shanahan, general manager John Lynch and Saleh, as Sherman sat on the ground.
At one point, a trainer touched Sherman’s left Achilles after Sherman had removed his cleat and sock. Sherman had bone spurs removed from the Achilles after the 2017 season, a year that ended prematurely because he ruptured his right Achilles.
“First, you get worried for the man,” Saleh said. “Was hoping it was nothing serious. I got a little nervous for him. But once we got over there, (we) realized there was no concern. So it was more a relief than anything.”
Sherman remained in practice and picked off a Jimmy Garoppolo pass for the third time in training camp, this time during a redzone session. Garoppolo floated an acrossthefield pass off his back foot intended for wide receiver Kendrick Bourne that Sherman grabbed near the end zone before sprinting down the left sideline.
Pick (and TD) parade: Sherman’s interception was one of three Garoppolo threw early in the redzone period.
The pick parade inspired memories of last year’s camp practice in which Garoppolo threw five straight interceptions, but he rebounded Wednesday.
First, the ugly: After the interception by Sherman, Garoppolo threw an endzone pass that was broken up by cornerback Tim Harris and corralled by safety Johnathan Cyprien, and another Garoppolo pass was tipped at the line and caught by defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw. In addition, Garoppolo had another throw that was nearly grabbed by cornerback Emmanuel Moseley.
However, after starting by completing 3 of 7 passes with the three interceptions, Garoppolo went 4for6 and threw touchdown passes to wide receivers Trent Taylor, Bourne and Dante Pettis. Garoppolo’s final throw was a completion to wideout Tavon Austin that was just short of the end zone.
No thank you: NFL teams can have six players with unlimited experience on their practice squad this season.
But not all veteran players will be interested in accepting a role that comes with a $192,000 salary during a season that will played in the midst of a pandemic.
Cyprien, 30, a 2013 secondround pick with 71 career starts, was asked if he’d consider signing with the 49ers’ practice squad if he didn’t make the 53man roster.
“To be honest with you, no,” he said.
Roster report: Backup strong safety Marcell Harris (undisclosed) did not practice and fullback Kyle Juszczyk, who had no visible issues, appeared to be given a day off from practice.
Running back Raheem Mostert returned after he had a day off Tuesday. Eric Branch covers the 49ers for The San Francisco Chronicle.