Garoppolo, Kittle among 49ers at offseason program
Jimmy Garoppolo wore a green T-shirt and flashed a familiar smile walking in from the 49ers’ parking lot.
George Kittle sniffed the Santa Clara air and whispered: “Football season.”
Fred Warner, fresh off getting engaged over the weekend, proposed that Monday was the “first day of school” for his 49ers’ teammates.
More than 80 players reported, according to a league source, for Phase 2 of the voluntary offseason program, in which veterans can join rookies for field drills with coaches. There won’t be any offense vs. defense drills until Phase 3 next week.
A month ago, the NFL Players Association posted a statement from 49ers players stating that “many in our locker room have chosen not to attend some or all phases of the voluntary in-person workouts,” citing COVID concerns.
There’s no media access this week, so images of Garoppolo and others were relayed only via the team’s social-media channels. Al
though 22 players were crammed into a 31-second video, yet to be seen are defensive linemen Nick Bosa and Dee Ford, both of whom are coming off serious injuries.
Garoppolo’s attendance shouldn’t be a surprise. Top draft pick Trey Lance said Friday he’d met Garoppolo last week among an “awesome” group of quarterbacks.
Kittle has been training at his custom-built workout barn at his offseason home near Nashville, where he’ll host a “Tight End University” from June 23-25 for NFL cohorts including Zach Ertz (Eagles),
Darren Waller (Raiders), Eric Ebron (Steelers), Robert Tonyan Jr. (Packers), Noah Fant (Broncos), David Njoku (Browns) and T.J. Hockenson (Lions). TEAM SIGNS LEE >> Marqise Lee has started only one game the past three seasons. Now he’s getting a new start with the 49ers.
Lee, a former USC and Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver, signed a one-year deal Monday morning with the 49ers after trying out at last week’s rookie minicamp.
Lee caught three passes Friday from rookie Trey Lance as one of five veterans auditioning as free agents.
Receiver Trent Taylor’s four-season tenure with the 49ers is over, as he’s joining the Cincinnati Bengals.
Three years ago, Lee resigned with Jacksonville (four years, $34 million). He would see $16.8 million of that the next two injuryplagued seasons, and after Jacksonville cut him, he signed with the New England Patriots only to optout last season amid the COVID pandemic.
Lee tore multiple ligaments in his left knee — including his anterior collateral ligament — when hit in a 2018 exhibition game, thus ending his season and derailing his career. He played in six games with one start in 2019 before a season-ending shoulder injury.
The 49ers did not draft a wide receiver last month, and Lee will compete for a backup spot behind starters Brandon Aiyuk and
Deebo Samuel. Others in the receiving corps are Jalen Hurd, Travis Benjamin, Richie James Jr., Mohamed Sanu, Trent Sherfield, Jauan Jennings, River Cracraft, Kevin White, and undrafted rookie Austin Watkins Jr.
Austin Proehl was waived to create room for Lee.
• Back and foot surgeries hindered Taylor’s 49ers tenure as a slot receiver and punt returner. He totaled 79 receptions for 731 yards and three touchdowns as a 49er, plus 49 punt returns (471 yards). Back surgery before the 2018 season slowed him, then a foot fracture and ensuing complications for an infection kept him out the entire 2019 season.