Fangio’s “prediction powers” come true: Sanders to get work
Player attendance Did not practice:
ILB Todd Davis (calf), S Kareem Jackson (hamstring), CB Horace Richardson (hamstring), ILB Joe Jones (triceps), RB Theo Riddick (shoulder) and FB Andy Janovich (pectoral).
TE Jake Butt (knee) and ILB Josey Jewell (oblique) participated in 7-on-7 drills but not in 11-on-11. Coach Vic Fangio replied “maybe” when asked if Butt is trending toward full-team work later this week.
Top play
Albeit against the third-team defense, QB Joe Flacco received good protection and threw a long pass down the sideline that was caught by WR Emmanuel Sanders. Rookie CB Alijah Holder was in coverage.
Thumbs-up WR Emmanuel Sanders.
He caught three passes during team work, and Fangio said postpractice that Sanders will play in the preseason. “If you guys remember, I kind of predicted it in the spring — my medical background gives me those prediction powers,” Fangio half-joked. “I thought he would make it back quicker than most, and he has. And he looks fine. I’ve asked guys who have been here in the past to compare him (now) to what he’s been in the past, because I don’t have a past with him and they don’t see any difference right now.” Sanders remains on a snap count.
QB Drew Lock. Working with the second-team offensive line for the second consecutive practice, his first completion was well done — rolling to his right, he hit WR River Cracraft in stride on a crossing route.
Thumbs-down QB Kevin Hogan’s reps.
He had only seven snaps in 11-on-11 work out of a possible 79.
Presnap penalties.
In starters vs. starters toward the end of practice, consecutive penalties (one apiece on offense and defense) forced Fangio to say, “Start it over.”
Odds and ends
*Quarterback snaps (11-on-11): Joe Flacco 34, Kevin Hogan seven, Drew Lock 22 and Brett Rypien 16. *Although still in full pads, Monday’s practice had a regular-season feel because of the amount of scout-team work. “This has been a good week, because we have the big space in between games,” Fangio said. “We’ve had half-normal training camp sessions and halfcarded (scout-team) sessions to get things for the regular season that we need to see on both sides of the ball.”
*The run game was emphasized early in 11-on-11 work. Ten of the first 13 plays were rushes. *New ILB Jamal Carter (formerly a safety) worked in the nickel package alongside rookie Josh Watson. Rookies Justin Hollins and Ahmad Gooden were the outside linebackers.
*TE Bug Howard appeared to suffer an injury during an individual drill, but he returned for team work. Howard came back to practice Sunday after missing time with an ankle injury.
*In 7-on-7, the Broncos ran a nice “rub” (or pick), allowing RB Devontae Jackson to get open on a wheel route when ILB Josey Jewell was caught up in traffic. *Hogan started the second period of 11-on-11 with the third-team offense against the first-team defense. He completed passes to WRs Kelvin McKnight and Fred Brown and had a pass broken up by CB Isaac Yiadom.
*The third period of 11-on-11 started with four consecutive completions by Lock. Flacco’s five plays: Incompletion, RB Devontae Booker drop, pass to WR Tim Patrick, offensive pass interference and incompletion.
*In a red-zone period, Flacco connected with Patrick for a touchdown, RB Phillip Lindsay ran for a score and Rypien threw for a TD. *Catching kickoffs from a machine: Booker, McKnight, Jackson, WR Brendan Langley, WR River Cracraft and RB Khalfani Muhammad. There were no drops. *Flacco’s second-to-last 11-on-11 period included completions to Patrick, Sanders, Muhammad (after a low snap) and TE Jeff Heuerman. Flacco threw behind and incomplete to WR Courtland Sutton on a quick slant.
*RT Ja’Wuan James got tangled up and tumbled to the turf on the third-to-last play of practice. Elijah Wilkinson was ready to come in, but James stayed on the field. *Fangio, on tight end Troy Fumagalli: “He’s had some days where he’s up and down healthwise, but I think he’s ready to push forward and push through all the little stuff and become an NFL tight end.” When he was asked if Fumagalli is improving because of the extra reps, Fangio said: “Everybody benefits from extra reps. It’s the only way you can get better.”
*San Francisco arrives Friday for practices with/against the Broncos on Friday and Saturday. Fangio said he hadn’t yet talked to 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan, but he did send him a practice outline.
Tuesday’s schedule
Practice 9:15 a.m.-noon (open to public).