Garoppolo, Kinlaw, Kittle stand out as pads get a rest
SANTA CLARA >> Once Jimmy Garoppolo completed a play-action pass backed up near his own goal line, he wasn’t done.
Jawing at him was defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw, who has about 100 pounds and a couple of inches on the 49ers’ quarterback.
Garoppolo, showing his high-schoollinebacker feistiness, jawed back as they retreated to their opposing sidelines.
That’s not to say the first training camp fight was brewing. It was an illustration how confident and excellent Garoppolo and Kinlaw were practicing. It also showed the type of intensity that made coach Kyle Shanahan “pleasantly surprised” at how the team fared without pads, after four straight practices in them.
Garoppolo completed 10 of 12 passes, including a couple of gems to Deebo Samuel over the middle. It was Garoppolo’s sharpest practice this camp.
Kinlaw had a very active practice invading the pocket. He was in prime, menacing form, after being held out of Saturday’s practice at Levi’s Stadium, a cautionary approach that’s sidelined him for several practices because of his January knee surgery.
“He was having fun out there today. He showed up a lot,” Shanahan said. “He was an issue today.”
Rookie QB Trey Lance completed 8 of 12 passes, had three dropped and ran twice.
KEY HAPPY TO FLEE RAIDERS >> Pass rusher Arden Key calls the 49ers “my type of place, my type of scheme.” The Raiders, he said, were the contrary.
Key was a 2018 third-round pick by the Raiders, and he totaled three career sacks before being waived in April.
“To be honest, I wanted to get out of there,” Key said. “I’m more happy here. I wish it happened earlier, but, hey, I got what I wanted. I’m good.
“It was just bad, bad, bad. It was just bad all around for me. Bad system and it just wasn’t the right fit for me. I just had to get out.”
Key’s seen a lot of first-team reps while the 49ers have limited Samson Ebukam and Dee Ford.
BOSA ON PACE FOR OPENER >> Nick Bosa remains on pace to play in the Sept. 12 season opener at Detroit, Shanahan said, “I believe so. It’s been the plan all along. There’s been no setbacks. He’s doing great so far.”
Bosa had another “maintenance day” after participating in defensive line drills the previous two practices. He’s yet to take part in any full-team action.
KITTLE EXCELS >> Shanahan said coaches have challenged George Kittle to refine his route running this camp, and Sunday was his best showing. That was evident from the start with one-on-one drills against veteran Tavon Wilson, and it carried into team drills, where Kittle caught a 25-yard pass from Lance. SLIPPERY FOOTBALLS >> Two troubling trends are fumbled snaps and botched exchanges, and they’re separate issues.
Garoppolo fumbled a snap from center Alex Mack, who gets notoriously sweaty, so much so that Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan used to want Mack to change his pants every period, Shanahan quipped.
As for the fumbled exchanges, they’ve been almost a daily happenstance with Lance and a running back on a zone-read play.
“That’s why we keep repping it,” Shanahan said. “When you just dabble in that stuff, that’s why you get turnovers. If you’re going to fumble the ball, you can’t do it, so we have to keep repping it and it will take some time.”
ROSEN WOES >> After starting off camp “real well,” Josh Rosen has “taken a couple of steps back” while splitting third-string reps with Nate Sudfeld, Shanahan said.
Rosen attempted only three passes in Sunday’s team drills, and his final attempt was intercepted by Tony Jefferson after a busted route prompted Rosen to over throw Trent Sherfield.
Sudfeld completed 4-of-6 passes, including a 55-yard catch-and-run touchdown by converted tight end Jordan Matthews.
HEALTH CENTER >> Defensive linemen Samson Ebukam (leg soreness, possibly in his knee) and Arik Armstead (groin) did conditioning on the side, as did linebacker Azeez AlShaair, who sustained a sprained knee in a scary incident Friday.
Veterans who got the day off were fullback Kyle Juszczyk, safety Jimmie Ward and cornerback Jason Verrett, who was also expecting a baby. Rookie Talanoa Hufanga saw some first-team reps in Ward’s place. Wide receiver Jalen Hurd was not seen at practice. He’s been in and out of position drills and some team action as he recovers from last year’s knee injury.