Bowman, McDonald get back to work after trade rumors
Both players were subject of trade rumors during the offseason
SANTA CLARA — Linebacker NaVorro Bowman and tight end Vance McDonald practiced Tuesday as model 49ers employees, not long after both endured reports they might get traded.
Neither appeared to hold a grudge, although each player’s situation is vastly different.
In Bowman’s case, the 49ers instantly disputed a May 11 report from former NFL executive Mike Lombardi, who claimed the rebuilding franchise was willing to move the All-Pro linebacker.
“It’s part of the business, I guess,” Bowman said. “But I’m a man of challenges.”
In McDonald’s case, the 49ers confirmed from the get-go that trade report, which also originated from Lombardi’s work for The Ringer.
After Tuesday’s organized team activities, both Bowman and McDonald met the media and appeared very self-confident about their ability to contribute to the 49ers’ potential revival.
Bowman first learned of his trade rumor through text messages from friends before hearing from general manager John Lynch.
“(Lynch) mentioned it was a rumor, things were misinterpreted,” Bowman said. “I also heard about the guy who reported it, who wanted some type of attention off of reporting it.”
Coach Kyle Shanahan said the 49ers never discussed shipping Bowman to another team, a possibility that may have gained validity after the franchise drafted his potential replacement in Reuben Foster.
“The only trade discussions we had was when another team asked us about Vance on draft day,” Shanahan said. “After a team asked us about Vance, then we asked other teams if they’d be interested in the same thing.
“When it came to NaVorro or any other player, no one’s asked, and we haven’t either.”
Such open communication was appreciated not only by Bowman but also McDonald.
“Now it’s all kind of over and now I’m here to stay,” said McDonald, who signed a four-year extension in December under the 49ers’ former regime led by Trent Baalke.
McDonald caught Brian Hoyer’s first pass in 11-on-11 drills Tuesday.
McDonald was attending his brother’s wedding in Austin, Texas, when his mother showed him reports of a potential trade.
“I still had my best man speech to do. I still had a foregoing priority at that minute,” McDonald said.
Shanahan called later that night, and McDonald credited him for the effort after two exhausting days helping Lynch preside over the 49ers’ draft room.
“That night, I was at my brother’s wedding helping cleaning up tables and saw (Shanahan) calling me,” McDonald said. “He’d been in the draft room for 48 hours. The first thing I told him was there are not a lot of coaches that would do this.”
Shanahan’s communication skills were at work a day earlier when he phoned Bowman after the 49ers traded up to draft Foster 31st overall.
“I wasn’t expecting it but it was good to hear from him, that he had something to say or an idea to get across to me,” Bowman said. “We haven’t talked about (Foster’s selection). I did that on purpose. It doesn’t matter to me. I’ll compete with anyone, whether he’s 21 or 35.”
Malcolm Smith is another potential starting linebacker the 49ers added to the mix through free agency.
Smith lined up next to Bowman in Tuesday’s OTA while Foster was restricted to individual drills away from any potential contact because of shoulder rehabilitation.
“We got a lot better pretty fast,” Shanahan said of that unit.
How does Shanahan envision the starting roles shaking out?
“I’m not sure. It’s a good problem to have,” Shanahan answered. “It’s something you’d like at every position. There’s going to be a good player not out there every time.”
Bowman’s response to that: “I won’t be on the sideline, I’m going to tell you that now.”
Center Jeremy Zuttah n lined up with the first-string offense before aggravating a right leg injury on the third snap.
Daniel Kilgore replaced him on the starting unit. Kilgore said he is fully recovered from last December’s hamstring surgery.
Defensive tackle Solomon n Thomas, the 49ers’ top draft pick, has switched to jersey No. 94 after receiving the blessing of retired 49ers star Justin Smith, who previously wore that number.
Thomas can’t rejoin the 49ers until their mid-June minicamp because of Stanford’s academic calendar. The only other player not in attendance, also for academic reasons, was wide receiver Kendrick Bourne (Eastern Washington).
Wide receiver Marquise n Goodwin appeared to pull up with a left-leg injury but resumed practicing.
Wide receiver Bruce n Ellington and running back Raheem Mostert did not practice and instead did individual conditioning on apparent leg injuries.